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• MIRANDA MING

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published: Friday, August 17, 2012

She was on loan to us from God

By SAMANTHA GHOLAR

sgholar@newssun.com

SEBRING -- "When you lose your child you lose your future," a mourning Scott Pearce said Thursday morning.

After the tragic vehicle accident involving his step-daughter, 18-year-old Miranda Ming, last week, Pearce, his wife Sherry and countless others are flooded with memories of their beloved Miranda.

The accident brought on a dramatic turn of events that Peace has called indescribable. Ming was traveling home on Orange Blossom Boulevard On Aug. 5 when her Jeep ran off the road and overturned.

Ming was transported to Longwood Medical Center in critical condition and was pronounced dead a short time later. She was then transported to the University of Miami Hospital to be prepped for organ donor surgery.

But after more intensive testing, Miami Hospital doctors discovered brain activity deep within the brain stem and contacted Ming's family. Ming was kept on a respirator for a week and further testing was done before she was pronounced dead a second time on at 10:55 p.m. Sunday night.

"We lost her and began mourning. We got her back and of course we prayed, prayed, prayed and then we lost her again," Pearce said. Ming's family and friends kept hope and faith and were waiting on a miracle, he said.

"We all had to lose her a few times. It's been very trying for the Mings and for us."

Ming was a person who cared deeply about people, the environment and the world. A true outdoorsy girl, she enjoyed fishing, four-wheeling, swimming and boating. Ming's biggest passion, however, was photography, Pearce revealed.

The 18-year-old beauty had just made the decision to join the Navy and continue her hobby of photography as a back-up. She had planned to take up photography full-time in a few years.

"She looked at her grandmother and gave her a thumbs-up the other day and said 'I've got a plan,'" said Pearce.

Ming lived on her own but visited her parents daily and had grown extremely close to both Pearce and her mother Sherry in the last year.

"I pray for her peace above all suffering. It's so difficult. She's expecting that knock on the door every day and it's not going to come," Pearce said of Sherry.

Because of Ming's death, however, many individuals will be able to continue on with their own lives, including a 13-year-old girl who received Ming's heart.

"God works on his own timeline and sometimes he chooses not to intervene for His own reasons. It may be because the child that received her heart may go on to do something that God's will needed to be done. You never know. Some day we'll look back and have all the answers," said Pearce.

The Pearces and Ming's father, J.D. Ming, had the option of meeting the patient who received their daughter's heart, but opted not to.

Ming's other major organs also went to pediatric patients and because of Ming's decision to also donate her bone marrow, hundreds of lives will be saved according to Miami doctors.

"Making that call (organ donation) at the time of death is not something I think anybody would do. I don't think you could look at your baby girl or your boy and say 'Yes. I want to donate his organs.' You're so grief-stricken you can't imagine anybody touching your child," Pearce said.

"It's a decision that you have to talk about with your family in advance. It's a decision you need to take to heart. You don't want to leave that burden on your family."

Ming was nearing her 19th birthday on Sept. 5, a fact Pearce found hard to believe.

"The night I got the call I was on e-Bay looking at cameras for her birthday. I can't believe the time passed so fast. She was on loan to us by God. She valued life of any shape or size. She wanted her life to have real meaning, and it will," Pearce said.

Viewing services for Ming will be held at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home in Sebring today from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Sebring, 200 East Center Ave. Grace Bible Church pastor Andrew Katsanis will conduct the service.

"We've had such an outpouring of support. It's been helpful so many people loved her and will miss her," Pearce said.

Ming is survived by her 7-year-old brother Colton, her mother and step-father, Sherry and Scott Pearce, father J.D. Ming, two best friends Ashley Palmer and Tara O'Berry and countless other family members and friends.