Baby Landon laid to rest

As little Landon Sanders fought for his life in a Phoenix hospital, a child from his Yuma family announced: "Landon is going to be an angel." The very next day that prediction came true.

Landon Sanders, before even seeing a full year of life, died recently at a hospital in Phoenix. His parents, Michael and Alaina Sanders, buried their long-ailing son Tuesday, according to a Web page created by the family.

Sanders was born Sept. 7, 2006, after just 23 weeks of gestation and suffered from a host of medical problems. He endured at least 13 surgeries during his short life. His twin sister, Abby, died after just an hour of life.

The death of their second child marks the last in a long string of tragedies and challenges for the Sanders family. Alaina suffered an extremely difficult pregnancy four years ago with another set of twins - Ian and Caleb, according to a family biography written by Alaina.

Alaina was then diagnosed with uterine cancer, a disease she has since beat, according to that biography.

The Sanders knew early into Alaina's pregnancy with Landon and Abby that the situation was severely challenged. Even at six weeks the couple worried about their babies' future. Landon was born premature and, according to the biography, suffered from issues ranging from his kidneys and liver to his bowels and lungs.

Alaina wrote that one doctor told the family soon after the birth that "Landon is on a dead-end road."

The community came together to support Landon and raise much-needed funds for the Sanders family back in June. A benefit supper was sponsored by Outback Steakhouse and Sun Country Restoration. Michael Sanders works for the latter, while Alaina teaches at O.C. Johnson School.

Alaina Sanders shared her son's struggle with family and friends through a Web page filled with journal entries in photos. The mother wrote there that she received comfort in knowing that her child's broken body would at least be made whole in heaven.

"I know he will be in Heaven with so many wonderful people and I keep telling him how wonderful his new body will be," she wrote. "I feel that he will have no big ouiees...I tell him he will have one heck of a perfect body."

More can be seen at the site: www.caringbridge.org/visit/landonsanders.

A benefit account for the Sanders family has been established at 1st Bank Yuma. People interested in helping with fund raising may send e-mail to Rita Megui at rita@suncountryrestoration.com.