Terminally-Ill Girl Picks Heaven Over Hospital, Assuring Parents “God Will Take Care of Me”

Although death is a natural part of life, it can be scary for most of us, adults. A terminally-ill 5-year-old child, however, showed us a uniqe, faith-filled perspective with her own experience.

Julianna Snow was merely 2 years of age when she was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, a rare and terminal neurodegenerative illness that required frequent visits to the hospital.

In her blog, Michelle Moon, Julianna’s mother, described how her child chose victory over defeat despite her difficult condition – she picked heaven instead of hospital.

This is how their heart-wrenching conversation went:

Michelle: Julianna, if you get sick again, do you want to go to the hospital again or stay home?

Julianna: Not the hospital.

Michelle: Even if that means that you will go to heaven if you stay home?

Julianna: Yes.

Michelle: And you know that mommy and daddy won’t come with you right away? You’ll go by yourself first.

Julianna: Don’t worry. God will take care of me.

Michelle: And if you go to the hospital, it may help you get better and let you come home again and spend more time with us. I need to make sure that you understand that. Hospital may let you have more time with mommy and daddy.

Julianna: I understand.

Michelle: (crying) — I’m sorry, Julianna. I know you don’t like it when I cry. It’s just that I will miss you so much.

Julianna: That’s OK. God will take care of me. He’s in my heart.

Julianna’s story was later picked up by CNN and it generated a somewhat controversial discussion about the sensitive subject.

Eventually, however, Juliana passed away peacefully at her home.

Michelle later wrote:

“Our sweet Julianna went to heaven today. I am stunned and heartbroken, but also thankful. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world, for God somehow entrusted me with this glorious child, and we got almost six years together. I wanted more time, of course, and that’s where the sadness comes in. But she is free now.”

She also added:

“She fought hard to be here, harder than I’ve seen anyone fight, with a body that was too frail for this world. She was so brave—and I hated that she had to be so brave. This last fight was not to be won by her body. It was tired, and it needed to rest. And when it did, she was comfortable.”

Rest in peace, dear Julianna. May you rest in peace.