INDIANAPOLIS
(UMNS) - Conjoined twins Stephanie Nicole and Rebecca Marie McCray
lived only four days, but they spent their lives surrounded by the love
and care of family members and the prayers of United Methodists across
Indiana.
UMNS photo � Clint Keller
Conjoined twins Stephanie Nicole (left) and Rebecca Marie born to April and Rocky McCray on Jan. 20 in Indianapolis.
United
Methodists "in hundreds of churches" are joining in prayers for
conjoined twins Stephanie Nicole (left) and Rebecca Marie born to April
and Rocky McCray on Jan. 20 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis. A
UMNS photo � Clint Keller. Photo number 04-018, Accompanies UMNS #020,
1/22/04 Editors note: A high-resolution version of this photograph is
available only to United Methodist Church publications. Mandatory
credit: photo � Clint Keller.
The
twins died at 8:09 p.m. Jan. 24. The cause of death was listed as
abnormalities from birth, a hospital spokesperson said. The girls were
born Jan. 20 to April and Rocky McCray of Fort Wayne.
The
Rev. John and Marsha Boyanowski are maternal grandparents of the
babies. Boyanowski is the pastor of Pleasant Lake United Methodist
Church, the church the couple attends.
"They
appreciated every moment they had with the girls," says the Rev. Larry
Ray, superintendent for the Fort Wayne District in which Boyanowski
serves. The babies stayed in the hospital room with the family from
their birth, he said.
"They have been able to use this time as a witness to God's goodness and love, no matter what was happening," Ray says.
The
twins' funeral will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at Huntertown United Methodist
Church. The family belonged to Huntertown for many years before
Boyanowski became pastor at Pleasant Lake. Burial will be at Highland
Park Cemetery in Fort Wayne.
The
Fort Wayne District will receive contributions from churches, families
and individuals in memory of the twins. The funds will go toward
expenses incurred by the family and for any need they have in providing
the funeral service. Rays said, "they were covered by medical insurance,
however there were many other costs of travel, lodging and meals during
the past several days." Contributions may be sent to the Fort Wayne
United Methodist District Office, 9430 Lima Road, Suite B, Fort Wayne,
IN 46818.
April,
18, and Rocky, 19, learned in August they would be parents to a rare
type of conjoined twins called dicephalus, which meant the babies would
have separate heads. Doctors had warned the family from the beginning
that the babies would probably not survive.
The
young couple named the babies as soon as they learned of their
condition so they could pray for them by name. The twins were born seven
and a half months into term and weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces.
Boyanowski
kept the district updated on the progress of the babies, so Ray and the
other clergy members of the Fort Wayne District knew of the pending
birth for months. The district sent out requests for prayer for the
families after learning of the pregnancy.
"They have hundreds praying with them all over the state and the nation," Ray said, shortly after the babies were born.
Members
of Pleasant Lake United Methodist Church, which averages 75 in
attendance a week, rallied around the family. They encouraged Boyanowski
to take as much time off as needed.
On
Jan. 18, the Sunday before the babies were born, the Boyanowskis were
called forward by the church and presented with a love offering and keys
to a van.
Pleasant Lake and Huntertown churches are planning benefit dinners and fundraisers to help with expenses for the twins.
*Dan
Gangler, Indiana Area communications director, and United Methodist
News Service writer Kathy L. Gilbert contributed to this story. News
media can contact Gilbert at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org. News media contact: Kathy Gilbert · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn.
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