Lindsey Whitleigh Efird's Obituary
05/17/1998 to 06/01/2019
Lindsey loved life! Although Sanfilippo Syndrome eventually robbed her of all her abilities, the few years beforehand were mighty happy and special.? Pink was Lindsey?s favorite color, she loved wearing her stride rite sandals and dresses every day. She was smart and inquisitive, especially watching kids and people.
Growing up, Lindsey loved watching Barney the Dinosaur, Bear in the Big Blue House, Elmo on Sesame Street, The Teletubbies, ?The Lawrence Welk Show, football games on TV, and COPS the bad boys show! She thought it was hilarious seeing the K9 chase the bad guys! Lindsey had a precious belly laugh.
Lindsey
loved riding roller coasters at Carowinds - and carousel horses anywhere we
could find them. She loved water?any size swimming pool, tub or sink, and
especially being at the beach, digging in the sand, and feeding seagulls.
Lindsey always loved to be held and rocked to sleep, and Momma still carried
her to bed nightly.
Picking
flowers was a favorite thing of Lindsey?s to do and anything that had to do
with music/dancing, watching musicals, and Disney movies. Lindsey was quite
amused by our men?s choir at church; she loved their singing on Sundays!
Eating
was also a favorite pastime. Lindsey would eat most any foods, she wasn?t a
picky eater, but her favorites were milk, biscuits, cheese, strawberries,
bananas, and ice cream. She loved animals, especially her dog Spekels, Lilly
the goat, and moooo-cows!
For
many years the highlight of the week was to be at Mamaw?s for Sunday lunch with
Hannah and all the cousins playing together; and also going together on weekend
& summer family trips. We are blessed to have such a supportive family. Lindsey?s
favorite activity was to swing in the backyard with Hannah ? or play in leaf
piles in the fall. They loved their swingset and time together. If weather
didn?t permit, then it was forts in their bedroom.
Lindsey
was christened as a baby in her home church and attended as much and as long as
she was able. She enjoyed being in the nursery while Kolby and Paige tended to
her. Bethany has been an anchor for us all these years and we?re forever
grateful for the love and support received. It sustained us during many crucial
times and we love you all.
Lindsey
was pretty smitten to have a baby sister. She tended to Hannah by making sure
to sneak food for her from the fridge, combed her almost bald head of hair
after bath time, and just always being together as sisters. After a few years,
the tables turned and Hannah then did the same for Lindsey. Even during the
last 10 years, they continued to share nightly secrets with each other. They
were the best sister to each other!
Once
we received Lindsey?s diagnosis of MPS-IIIa (Sanfilippo Syndrome) we began the
journey of meeting others within The National MPS Society, especially the many
families living the same life as us. From the first family conference we
attended, we met and are still friends with special loved ones to this day.
Although there is still no cure for MPS, we are grateful for what the Society
and individual foundations do for research and family support. Lindsey?s brain
has been donated to research in the hope that one day no parent will have to
face this diagnosis for their child.
Lindsey
was a home-bound student with Endy Elementary School under the love of teachers
Debbie and Holly. Before that however, Lindsey found pure joy attending the
West Main PreK School for speech therapy, gross motor and fine motor skills,
occupational & physical therapy and classroom setting. Being there with the
special director, her wonderful teachers and therapists was a true blessing!
We
were blessed to have wonderful, caring doctors over the years. Albemarle
Pediatrics was Lindsey?s pediatrician from birth until she aged out. While most
children hate doctor appointments, Lindsey wanted to stay. She loved Dr. Linda
and we are grateful for all she did. We spent many weeks in Chapel Hill over the
past 15 years. Dr. Joseph Muenzer is a top-rated MPS doctor and we were
fortunate to have the best pediatric pulmonologist there as well. Time did pass
more quickly on our many stays when Mimi came on weekends to camp out with
Lindsey, and we are grateful for all
those trips she made!
Where
do I begin when thanking the Bayada Nurses office staff in Albemarle,
Salisbury, and Monroe/Matthews and especially the wonderful nurses we were
blessed to have care for Lindsey in our home for 15 years. Some of them became
family. We enjoyed many day trips together over the years and share a lifetime
of memories and love. You gals will never truly know the magnitude of how much
you mean to the three of us for all that you did. Lindsey will always be your
ladybug princess!
Pallbearers
will be some of Lindsey?s special caregivers: Linda Lawrence (doctor),
Elisabeth Dellon (doctor), Darlene Burris (daycare), Trina Wenzel (PreK),
Christi Brown (PreK), Leslie Phillips (MPS), Christina Crews (nurse), Morgan McDow
(nurse), Katee O?Loughlin (nurse), and Melissa Zanation (nurse).
Lindsey
was pre-deceased by her maternal great-grandfather Bradford Whitley and
great-aunt Debbie Allen both of Oakboro NC; maternal grandfather, Loyde Kiker;
maternal great-grandparents, Harvey & Lena Kiker, paternal great-grandparents
Luther & Maggie Lee Efird and Charles & Eunice Harrington; paternal
uncle Dale Efird and great-uncle Edward Efird, all of Albemarle NC. Paternal
survivors include father Mark Efird, grandparents Joseph & Ruby Efird, aunt
Marla Efird and family, all of Albemarle.
In
addition to Lindsey?s mom Karen and her sister Hannah Brooks, those left to
cherish her memory are great-grandmother Doris Whitley and grandmother Aloma
Whitley, both of Oakboro NC; aunts Tammi (Gary) McIlwaine, Lori (Alan) Barbee,
Deanna (Troy) Donahue; and cousins Nathan Russell, Dustin (Trivia) Barbee,
Bradley Barbee, Holly & Amber McIlwaine, Chad Allen, and baby Kylin Barbee;
great-uncle Ronnie Whitley & family and great-aunt Janet Whitley; as well
as special friends The Morgan Family, Linda Rogers & family, Pat Reid and
Pat Bates.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to:
The National MPS Society, PO Box 14686, Durham NC 27709-4686
Bethany
United Methodist Church, 2411 US-52, Albemarle NC 28001
Hospice
of Stanly & Uwharries, 960 N First St, Albemarle NC 28001
What’s your fondest memory of Lindsey?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lindsey?
Share a story where Lindsey's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lindsey you’ll never forget.
How did Lindsey make you smile?