We are heartbroken to announce the unimaginable loss of our precious Teddie Winslet DeCoste, 1 year old. Just nine days before her 2nd birthday, Teddie passed away peacefully in her dreams on August 30, 2023.
Teddie was born at St. Martha's Regional Hospital on September 8, 2021, by an incredible team of women. She was carried with love via LifeFlight to the IWK NICU where she received the ultimate care and love. Teddie was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia, at birth. She is so patient and tolerant to take her medication every 8 hours in order to keep her condition under control. Checking her heartbeat became more difficult as she got busier, but we were always able to catch her, and she would let us listen. How lucky we were to have heard her heartbeat so often, making it impossible to ever forget.
Though she is young, Teddie's love for her family is strong. She adores her big brothers and loves when they make her laugh or react to her adorable outfit of the day. "Awe she's so cute" has been said many times daily as she struts around the house in various tutus, dresses, and pink ensembles. She loves her Daddy's kisses and all the treats he would sneak her. She loves swimming with Daddy, sitting on his lap or dancing around the house on his shoulders. And she loves her Momma, her biggest advocate. Teddie and her Momma have a beautiful, unbreakable bond that will never be broken, even in death. She is her Momma's best friend and dream come true. They love to read books, play dress up and dance to the Encanto soundtrack together. Teddie's favorite place in the world is snuggled in her Momma's arms, hugging her tight.
Teddie loves playing with her Little People toys, Little People Barbie house and Little People car. She loves to arrange her Little People in special rows around our home and admire them. Every morning, she carefully chooses her two favorites of the day, one in each hand, and they follow her around until she goes to sleep.
Teddie loves to read books. Her favorite books are Princess and the Pea, A Little Princess, The Three Little Pigs, The Wizard of Oz, Rap ABC's, Dada, Under the Sea, Each Peach, Pear and Plum and Where Do Kisses Come From. She is constantly tearing her books apart and the pages are everywhere. She loves collecting specific pages from different books to read at night or in the morning.
Teddie is a climber and keeps us on our toes, always finding a way to get to the top of whatever she could, making it impossible to ever leave her side.
Teddie loves her dollies and teddy bears, her bubba and sookies. But nothing brings her more comfort than her pink blankie. Watching her pull her blankie behind her always makes us smile. You know if you see her coming with her blankie, it's time for a snuggle.
Teddie loves to play with her beauty salon, Barbie bike, white slide, her orange jeep, and she loves to push her cabbage patch girls in her stroller. She loves to watch movies, cuddled up with her family. A Strange World, Toy Story, Angry Birds, The Penguins Movie, and of course Encanto were her favorites. She adores the famous Ms. Rachel; just the sound of her voice will bring the biggest smiles to our girl's face. She also loves all her friends at Mema's daycare.
Teddie loves to eat pizza, spaghetti, bear paws, strawberries, drinkable yogurt, cheese and Eggos, to name just a few.
In her short life, Teddie did big things. In 2022, she starred (and stole the spotlight) in Petro Canada Caremakers Foundation's 24-Hour Campaign. We will cherish this experience, giving us beautiful videos and photos to hold close forever.
We will miss her piggy tails, her laugh, her smile, her tight hugs, her eyelashes, her walk, holding her hand, tickling her feet and her little earrings that complimented her perfect ears. We will miss everything about her.
Her family would like to thank her entire medical team. Her loving cardiologist, Dr. Jayani Abeysekera, who described Teddie as "perfect as a peach". They would like to thank her cardiology nurse, Kristy Matheson; cardiologist Dr. Kenny Wong; her relentless and special pediatrician, Dr. Sarah Morse; Brenda Mattie who always set up Teddie's holters; the staff at Teasdale's Apothecary & Drug Store Pharmacy, especially Dan Farrell, Sarah Landry and Miranda Teasdale, for always taking the utmost care in preparing her medications; her family doctor, Dr. Emma Chaisson; and all the women who delivered Teddie, especially Dr. Rebekah Zee and nurse Sarah Delorey.
They would also like to thank their neighbours who came to Teddie's aid and were there to care for our boys; the EMS first responders who took Teddie to the hospital, and the entire medical team that worked as hard as their hearts and hands could to bring our girl back to us. You were incredible. A special thanks to nurses Mary Smith, Shara MacPherson and Lisa MacDonald who comforted our family and made all our last wishes come true.
Though her time was short, Teddie, our heart warrior, will continue to make a lasting impact on the community. Teddie's heart will be studied to help others with Ventricular Tachycardia in hopes of keeping other children safe. Her bravery will make a difference.
Teddie is survived by her Momma and Daddy, Kaitlin and Graham DeCoste; big brothers, Paxton, Bodhi and Riggs; grandparents Michael and Charlene Pettipas and Gordon and Wanda DeCoste; aunties Kristie Gillis (Marcellinus), Cassidy Pettipas, Taryn Gilfoy (Brian), Kelsey DeCoste (Mark MacInnis); cousins Chase, Kinsey, Delilah and Hattie; great grandparents Marcella and Charlie DeGruchy and Catherine Jean Pitts. She is predeceased by many loved ones who we know were greeting her with open arms.
Cremation has taken place,visitation will be held Tuesday, September 5th from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ninian Cathedral on Wednesday, September 6th at 11am with Reverend Daniel MacLennan presiding. The family encourages all who attend to wear hearts, teddy bears or bright colors to celebrate and honour Teddie.
A Go Fund Me has been set up to support the family.
"Those who live long endure sadness and tears. But you'll never suffer the sorrowing years. No betrayal, no anger, no hatred, no fears. Just love - only love - in your lifetime"
We love you, Baby Girl.
How much?
So much.