Obituary of Layla Marielle Sloan

Layla Marielle Sloan, three month old daughter of Robert, Jr. and Marie Sloan, of Hixson gained her angel wings Wednesday, August 7, 2013. She passed away peacefully and comfortably in her Mommy's arms at Vanderbilt Monroe Carrell, Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Richard Uptain and Philip Partin; Robert's maternal grandparents, Johnny and Gracie West and paternal grandparents, L. M. and Constance Sloan. Layla fought for her life since day one. She was born at Erlanger East and ultimately had to be airlifted to Vanderbilt. She had to be incubated right after birth and spent her whole life on a ventilator. She was diagnosed with Heterotaxy, Dextrocardia, ASVD, and coartation of the aorta (she had open heart surgery when she was ten days old to repair the aorta and to put on a pulmonary band on her left pulmonary artery), hypoplastic right lung and enlarged liver. We know many parents say that their children are special, but Layla was TRULY very special. She was quite literally one special child out of millions and millions of children. She was so special that the doctors did not even have a name for her complete diagnosis. She was something that they had never seen before and definitely one for the medical books. She was one child out of three in the whole country that we personally know about that had a similar anatomy. We were truly blessed to have been her very special parents, God chose us out of millions and millions. As a family we were truly blessed to be able to spend every day of her short life with her. We are especially proud of her big sister Lucy for being with her and us. Layla touched so many lives in the short time she was here, there is absolutely no doubt that she was angel here on earth and will be an angel in heaven. We can't thank our friends and family enough for all their love, support, and prayers. Other survivors include her sister, Lucy VanHooser, Hixson; paternal grandparents, Robert, Sr. and Marion Sloan, Jacksonville, FL; Barbara West, Nashville; maternal grandmother, Karla Uptain, Soddy Daisy; uncle and aunts, Dennis and Dee Sloan, Carthage, TN, Connie Corkern, Soddy Daisy, and Sherry Sloan, Nashville, Jerry and Dorothy Gregory, ; cousins, Lillith Corkern, Soddy Daisy, David, Robert, Janet, Larry, and John West, all of Ten Mile, TN; Lucy's grandmother, Mildred Chapman; and Lucy's uncle, aunt and cousin, Gary and Eleandra VanHooser, and Yahna VanHooser. Graveside services will be at 11 A.M. Monday, August 12, 2013 at Hamilton County Memorial Park. There will be no visitation. Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Soddy-Daisy Share your memories, stories and photos at www.legacyfuneralhome.com