Erin Lynne Vance (Bright Eyes) was born on January 23, 1983 in Bellingham, WA and died September 16, 1992 in Anacortes, WA. At the age of 4 she was diagnosed with the Late-Infantile form of Batten Disease by doctors at Children's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada.  This was only after a very long and frustrating year and a half of misdiagnosis and treatment in the U.S.  She lived most of her active life on the West Coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Erin enjoyed the outdoors and spent much of her time hiking and camping in the mountains with her mom and dad. She also loved the ocean, beaches, boats, animals and especially berries. Her life was full of music and the Highland Bagpipes were her favorite. She desperately wanted to become a Scottish Highland Dancer. In 1989 she was treated, by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington and Clan Donald, to a trip around Scotland. While there she attended the Royal Braemar Highland Games and met Queen Elizabeth II and Princes Diana. "Erin" means "Peaceful Spirit." 
 
Caitlin Jean Vance (Tumbleweed) was born on March 6, 1989 in Anacortes, WA and died June 26, 1996 in Seattle, WA. At the age of 3 she was also diagnosed with the Late-Infantile form of Batten Disease.  In 1992 Caitlin traveled down the west coast to Disneyland and Sea World as the special guest of Make-A-Wish. Her favorite parts of that trip included meeting the Beast (the Hollywood character), riding the Carousel (over and over), and meeting the Orca Whale Shamu.  Caitlin also traveled to Scotland (where she saw Nessie) and Yellowstone National Park. She loved the outdoors and especially the water. As far as she was concerned, every boat in the marina was "my boat."  She was the Grand Marshall for the 1993 Anacortes Christmas Boat Parade on the "Dreadnought."  Caitlin loved trips to Wild Waves and local carnivals (the faster the rides, the better she liked it). She also enjoyed music and dancing, especially the Highland Bagpipes and the Scottish Fiddle (both of which her brother plays).  "Caitlin" means "Pure." 
 
Meaghan Ruth Vance (Moon Beam) was born on March 1, 1994 in Anacortes, WA. She was tested as an infant and was also diagnosed with the Late-Infantile form of Batten Disease. She developed normally, like her sisters, until the age of three, upon which she had her first seizure. Meaghan also was the recipient of a Make-A-Wish trip to Disneyland. However, she got to ride in a stretch limo to the airport and enjoyed a flight to LA. Meaghan couldn't get onto the next ride at Disneyland fast enough and she rode many of them more than once. She also received a very special rose, tossed to her by her champion knight, at the Medieval Times Jousting Tournament and was pronounced a Lady of Nobility by the King himself (she was more impressed with the horses though). She loves the beach and can spend hours just throwing rocks in the water. Meaghan goes to the pool once a week with her school class and enjoys the spa at home. When her brother, Brandon, plays Celtic music ... she lights up and starts clapping. In the winter she loves going to the mountains and playing in the snow. " Meaghan" means "Strong of Spirit." 
 
Meaghan lives with her brother Brandon (13), her sister Morghan (2), and her mom (Cindi - the ER Nurse) and dad (Mark - the Beast) at their home in Anacortes on Fidalgo Island. Mark has been active in BDSRA as a past member of the National Board of Directors, and currently the Pacific Northwest Chapter President. He also was a member of the 1992 Denali Klimb for Batten Kids International Expedition which established Denali (Mt. McKinley) as the official monument for all victims of Batten Disease and raised the first grant money to be awarded to research from BDSRA.  If you would care to share your joys and hardships with us, we are available (most of the time) at  thebeastis@attbi.com. 
 
Our girls hearts were full of laughter in the midst of hardship.  Through all three of them, God touched lives with the wisdom of love, patience and hope. 

Dated June 3, 1998. 

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