Baby's short life inspires charity

Heather Sopp Farnan and Tim Farnan said they view the six weeks they spent with their baby daughter Milana Theresa as a gift.She was born on May 10, six weeks premature. Milana passed away on June 21, her due date."Even though it's hard at times," Heather said, "we thought she came those six weeks early and we don't know what was wrong with her. It could have been something inside of her the whole time. Maybe she may have never made it through birth. We think those six weeks we had with her were a gift. We had that time with her that we otherwise may not have. We got to know her and see her feistiness."Milana's immediate cause of death was sepsis and multiple organ failure, the family said. Further results of an autopsy still are pending.Milana was born at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC at a weight of 5 pounds, 11 ounces."She was there for nine days to gain weight and to acclimate her to room temperature," Heather said. "She was home for three weeks. She was fine."Then on June 12, Heather took Milana to the doctor because she was pale. The baby then was taken to Children's Hospital of UPMC."Every hour it got progressively worse," Heather said. "She ended up with an infection. They didn't even know what it was."Heather and Time were always by their baby daughter's side while she was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit."We didn't want to miss anything," Heather said. "We wanted her to hear our voices and know we were there."The couple said they'd describe their daughter as feisty and sweet from the time they spent with her."She would always smile in her sleep," Heather said."There was just something special about her," her father added.Andrea Foster and Susan Bender, owners of Candles That Make Scents in Glassport, contacted the Farnans on June 20 asking if they could do something for the family."They contacted us and said they wanted to do A Mile of Prayers for Milana," Heather said. "Their goal was 2,000 candles because that would be a mile long of the luminaries. It was originally scheduled to be a prayer vigil for her. Then Milana got sicker and sicker. It became a memorial."A Mile of Prayers for Milana occurred July 1 at the Glassport Honor Roll and was attended by approximately 3,000 people. The Rev. Casimir Kedzierski of Queen of the Rosary said prayers. Pam Mularski Whitney sang, and June Sechrist played the harp. Heather's sister Tiffany Sopp-Finneran and friend Jodi White spoke. Beth Cadman and Kim Werner and her family helped with the luminary ceremony.Many people purchased luminary bags for $2 and wrote messages, prayers, thoughts and poems to Milana and her family. The money raised went to Milana's Miracles, a charity that the Farnans have begun.The Farnans and their family have been going through each and every luminary bag to view the messages. Heather estimates there are approximately 1,400."We read every single bag," she said."That person took the time for Milana and we want to do the same for them," Heather's mother Pat Sopp said.The couple began Milana's Miracles to carry their daughter's name on in a positive way."Her name means ‘miracle' and ‘light,'" Heather said. "I wanted it to be that for somebody else.""We met a lot of families in NICU," Tim said. "We see how you can be there for months and you could be there for a year. We wanted to help them be more comfortable."Our first goal is - with the cooperation of Children's Hospital - to (equip) the NICU waiting room with some recliners or new furniture. After that, we just want to find ways to help the families who are in the NICU. Even if we can provide a meal voucher and parking pass now and then.""All money goes directly to her charity to help others," Heather said.Milana has a Facebook page, Praying for Milana."People began following it on there," Heather said. "Some people we don't even know. I had someone email me from South Africa."Heather is a South Allegheny first-grade teacher. Tim is a sales representative at Kenny Ross in Castle Shannon and is a specialist in the Oil City Unit of the Army National Guard.Heather and Tim said their employers have been very supportive during this time.Milana was the couple's first child together. Tim has a 6-year-old son Ryan from another marriage.Donations to Milana's Miracles can be made in care of SHACOG Federal Credit Union, 794 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, 15228.