wfn.org | Conjoined twins in Indiana die

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Jan. 26, 2004	   News media contact: Kathy L.
Gilbert7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn. 7 E-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org7ALL{025}

By United Methodist News Service*

INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) - Conjoined twins Stephanie Nicole and Rebecca Marie
McCray lived only four days, but they spent their lives surrounded by the
love and care of family members and the prayers of United Methodists across
Indiana.

The twins died at 8:09 p.m. Jan. 24. The cause of death was listed as
abnormalities from birth, a hospital spokesperson said. The girls were born
Jan. 20 to April and Rocky McCray of Fort Wayne.

The Rev. John and Marsha Boyanowski are maternal grandparents of the babies.
Boyanowski is the pastor of Pleasant Lake United Methodist Church, the church
the couple attends.

"They appreciated every moment they had with the girls," says the Rev. Larry
Ray, superintendent for the Fort Wayne District in which Boyanowski serves.
The babies stayed in the hospital room with the family from their birth, he
said.

"They have been able to use this time as a witness to God's goodness and
love, no matter what was happening," Ray says. 

The twins' funeral will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at Huntertown United Methodist
Church. The family belonged to Huntertown for many years before Boyanowski
became pastor at Pleasant Lake. Burial will be at Highland Park Cemetery in
Fort Wayne.

The Fort Wayne District will receive contributions from churches, families
and individuals in memory of the twins. The funds will go toward expenses
incurred by the family and for any need they have in providing the funeral
service. Rays said, "they were covered by medical insurance, however there
were many other costs of travel, lodging and meals during the past several
days." Contributions may be sent to the Fort Wayne United Methodist District
Office, 9430 Lima Road, Suite B, Fort Wayne, IN 46818.

April, 18, and Rocky, 19, learned in August they would be parents to a rare
type of conjoined twins called dicephalus, which meant the babies would have
separate heads. Doctors had warned the family from the beginning that the
babies would probably not survive.
 
The young couple named the babies as soon as they learned of their condition
so they could pray for them by name. The twins were born seven and a half
months into term and weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces.
 
Boyanowski kept the district updated on the progress of the babies, so Ray
and the other clergy members of the Fort Wayne District knew of the pending
birth for months. The district sent out requests for prayer for the families
after learning of the pregnancy.

"They have hundreds praying with them all over the state and the nation," Ray
said, shortly after the babies were born.

Members of Pleasant Lake United Methodist Church, which averages 75 in
attendance a week, rallied around the family. They encouraged Boyanowski to
take as much time off as needed. 

On Jan. 18, the Sunday before the babies were born, the Boyanowskis were
called forward by the church and presented with a love offering and keys to a
van. 

Pleasant Lake and Huntertown churches are planning benefit dinners and
fundraisers to help with expenses for the twins. 

# # #

*Dan Gangler, Indiana Area communications director, and United Methodist News
Service writer Kathy L. Gilbert contributed to this story. News media can
contact Gilbert at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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