Hannah Chapman

Hannah Gabrielle Chapman, 8, of Hillsboro died Sunday, January 17, 2010, at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. Hannah was born May 30, 2001 in Waco to David and Marcey West Chapman. She only weighed 1 pound 7 ounces and was only 13 inches long. She spent 96 days in NICU and was given less than a 50/50 chance of survival the first week. She lived to be 8 years, 7 months, and 18 days old. Hannah's favorite things in this life were school, music, church, and Koolio her service dog. She loved everybody, knew no strangers, and touched the lives of everyone that met her and she wasn't even able to carry on a conversation. Hannah had refractory epilepsy DRAVET syndrome diagnosis pending and autism. Her story was known internationally, with people in Scotland, Australia, and all over the US following her. She had active memberships, through her mom, in the following organizations: IDEA League International Dravet syndrome Epilepsy Action, 4 paws for ability, Autism Speaks, Autism Society of America, The Epilepsy Foundation, and PACE Parents Against Childhood Epilepsy. Hannah was the subject of a blog her mom maintained, www.hannahstory.blogspot.com. Franklin Elementary and Hillsboro Elementary were Hannah's schools. She was a little teacher herself. She quickly learned the routine at school and kept all her classmates on task. If they got off she didn't hesitate to tell them It's time to work! She kept her teachers and fellow classmates on their academic toes and truly loved every minute she spent at school. Her teachers held a special place in her heart. The biggest lesson Hannah's family learned from her life was to celebrate everything. They didn't wait for what most would consider big accomplishments to celebrate, they celebrated all those small things people overlook or think insignificant. Her life was so joyful because they celebrated all the time. Hannah renamed everything. She renamed people, movies, songs, and items. The Revelation song was call I sing and she would get in the van and say, play I sing. Casting Crown's East to West was dubbed How Far, she would say play how far. And heaven forbid if you didn't know what I Sing or How Far was. She LOVED music and we know that she is having a wonderful time among the angels. She was a member of First United Pentecostal Church in Hillsboro. Preceding her in death was her Nana, Billie Martin. Survivors include her parents, David and Marcey Chapman of Hillsboro; two brothers, Kyle and Zachary Chapman of Hillsboro; grandparents, Jim and Elizabeth West of Denison; devoted service dog, Koolio; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends. Memorials may be made to 4 Paws For Ability, 207 Dayton Ave., Xenia, OH 45385 or Hillsboro I.S.D. Education Foundation, 121 East Franklin, Hillsboro, TX 76645.