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Karnas -- Chestin Thomas Karnas, 18 months, was emancipated to the angels on January 7, 2003 while in the loving arms of his family. Chestin was a beautiful boy whose courage and will to live touched all those who met him. Chestin was born with a rare genetic disorder, Sialic Acid Storage Disease, and through all his turmoil he offered miles of smiles, his deepest love, his faith and his hope. He was truly one of God's blessed little angels. The things Chestin liked most in life were the familiar voices of his many siblings, feeling the breeze through his long blonde hair, jogging daily with his mom, doing therapy sessions, traveling to the beaches of North Carolina, and most of all listening to his parents' delicate songs and rhymes. Chestin is survived by his mother and father, Mary Ellen and Chet Karnas; sister, Harley Elizabeth; brothers, Mason, Peter, Izaak and Skylar; grandparents, Marianne Karnas, and Tom and Elaine Corcoran; great-grandmother, Pearl Notartomaso; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Chestin's family would like to thank his doctors at UNMH, especially Dr. Ben Hoffman and Dr. Leslie Morrison; his favorite therapist at RCI, Gina Timms; his OT, Annie Gallagher; his PT, Karen Lucero; his visual therapist, Lin Coachman; his medical equipment supplier, Oscar Anderson; his hospice nurses at VistaCare, Deanna Dyke and Mary Driscoll; his nurses at UNMH; and all others who opened their hearts to our special little boy. Chestin was able to play the part of baby Jesus during Christmas Eve Mass at the Newman Center just before his death, it was a moment cherished by all who participated. A Mass will be said for Chestin at the Newman Center on Friday, January 10, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. There will be a brief ceremony celebrating his liberation immediately following at the UNM duck pond. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Chestin's memory to be given to UNMH Children's Hospital, 700 Lomas NE, 2 Woodward Center, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87104.
        Published on: Sat January 11, 2003