Danika ez Page

[Guest guest]

Wenatchee student dies three weeks after seizure

By Gillin World photographer

SEATTLE -- Wrapped in her mother's arms and with her father holding her hand,

Danika ez Page quietly passed away Friday evening in a Seattle hospital.

Danika, 17, suffered a seizure Oct. 12 at Wenatchee High School. She spent the

last three weeks battling six aneurysms in her head, collapsed lungs and series

of strokes, said Page, Danika's mother, as she sat in a waiting room Friday

at Children's Hospital and

Regional Medical Center.

Danika, a Seckel Syndrome dwarf who was featured in a June 4 Wenatchee World

front-page story, had shown improvement early in the week.

But she took a turn for the worse Wednesday.

Doctors told family members that Danika had developed an infection in her lungs

and her kidneys and liver were not functioning properly.

Each day brought more bad news as Danika's condition worsened.

Tough decisions were made and shortly after 7 p.m. Friday, Danika was taken off

life support equipment, Page said. In the hospital's pediatric intensive

care unit, Page said she held Danika while Fred ez, Danika's dad,

held his daughter's hand.

She died a few minutes later.

" It's been a long journey. ... I don't know what I'm going to do without her, "

Page said. " I think she is at peace now. "

Funeral arrangements will be made at a later date