Carter James Oppen

Carter James Oppen, the son of Glen and Sadie (Spaeth) Oppen, was born on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital. Carter entered his Heavenly home on May 13, 2009 at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital.

Carter, our son, will remain in our Hearts forever. Carter blessed our family for 2-1/2 courageous months. Carter was born with Pulmonary Hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the lungs and which is supposed to go away after birth. Carter’s decided to stay.

Before Carter entered his Heavenly home on May 13, 2009 he experienced holding his mommy’s and daddy’s hands. We held him for such a short time, more or less in between ventilator changes. Carter lit up the room with his big, bright eyes. He knew we were always in the room because his heart rate would always go up! We tried to give him hugs and kisses every day, but if we could not do that we would tell him how much we loved him an uncountable number of times throughout the day. Carter loved seeing his sisters and brother when they came for a visit and other family and friends who stopped in to say Hi!

Carter will be deeply missed by his parents, Glen and Sadie; his sisters, Braelynn and Sophia, and his big brother, Wyatt. Carter’s grandparents are Sharon and the late Robert Oppen, and Karen and Wayne Melgaard and Richard Spaeth. His great-grandparents are Alpha Nelson and Mary Spaeth and Carl and Shirley Melgaard. Carter’s aunts and uncle are Cari and Randy Oppen, Kristie Oppen and Tony Best and Chris and Anthony Spaeth; and cousins and other relatives.