This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Mikayla Laurenson who was born in Australia on November 12, 2004 and passed away on August 11, 2007 at the age of 2. We will remember her forever.
Our precious angel who was brought into our lives on 12th November to her Mummy, Daddy and big 4 year old sister Emily. Mikayla was born a healthy 7lb 12oz. 
Mikayla was such a good baby, slept well, ate well, sat up at 5 months, crawled at 8 months and started walking the week of her first birthday.
At about 16 months of age we noticed she was still falling over a lot and unsteady with her walking and after having a few ear infections we decided to get her checked out by a ear specialist (thinking maybe she was off balance) but all was clear and the ear specialist actually thought it was her hips out of line. But it wasnt so , everything was perfect.
That night Mikayla had a seizure and when I took her to A&E they kept her in overnight but told us not to worry it was just a febrile convulsion(temperature got too high)
On the Monday morning we were referred to a childrens physiotherapist who told us after examinig Mikayla that it looked like Cerebral Palsy, which could be treated to a certain extent with physio and Mikayla could still have a normal life. Selfishly we thought our world had fallen apart. But we had to have the diagnosis confirmed with and MRI scan and blood tests.
So a few months later after finally getting into the womens and Childrens Hospital in Adelaide, Mikayla had the tests done and was just being gorgeous and patient the whole time.
Our biggest shock was on 13th February 2007 when our Gp told us the test results about our beautiful little girl. He said she had a very rare genetic disease called "Metachromatic Leukodystrophy" we couldnt even pronounce it, let alone understand anything about it. 
We were told that children with this disease deteriorate at different rates, but her life expectancy was between 4 - 6 years of age.And worse of all NO Treatment or cure. OH MY GOD, my precious baby was going to have her life taken away from her. 
We just couldnt believe it because she seemed so normal she just fell over a bit. 
They then told us she would stop walking, talking, swallowing, blindness, dementia,more seizures and become very floppy.
That was just not fair for her.
In about April, Mikayla stopped walking, about June she stopped talking and sitting up and in July she needed a feeding tube to assist with her swallowing and her head was very floppy. 
In between February and August we had some beautiful quality family time together, but we did not think we would lose her just 6 months after her diagnosis, the disease was obviously just so agressive.
 At the end of July we had a lovely trip to QLD with our mums, and my dad. By this stage Mikayla was on valium as she was in a fair bit of pain but it didnt stop her smiles. 
We came home on the 5th August and Thursday 9th August was Emilys 7th birthday. 
We had lots of family and friends around that night and everyone got to have a cuddle of a very fragile but happy Mikayla. 
On Saturday 11th August I went into Mikaylas room , only to find her face down in bed, when i rolled her over i just knew, I screamed and got help but the ambulance officers told me what Id been dreading for the past 6 months.
 The doctor confirmed she had vomited and had a seizure during the night.
 Our precious baby had flown to heaven. She was just 2 years, 8 months and 29 days. 
Her Funeral was held on the 17th August, we wanted it to be beautiful, there was about 350 people and we released white doves, and 300 balloons and had the most beautiful slide show, it truly captured her whole life.
We still cant believe she has gone, everyday something just isnt right. We love her so much and think about her every second of every day.