There is a Baby Loss Awareness Campaign going on in the U.K. this week. While I am sure there is something similar in the U.S., I felt moved to spread a bit of awareness in honor of some precious angels associated with CHH. Join us on October 15 at 7:00 P.M. by lighting a candle for one hour in memory and honor of all of the precious babies who are now in Heaven with our Heavenly Father.
Below is the story of Emily, who earned her angel wings on New Year's Day in 2009. Emily's mother, Jennifer, has a daughter Erika, and went on to have another daughter, Emma, recently who has Turner Syndrome. While the Temple family has been through an awful lot, God has been faithful and carried them through. Please lift this family up to the Lord upon reading this post. A very special thank you to Jennifer for sharing, as we know it must be extremely difficult. ♥M
Emily's Story
My sweet Emily Ann Temple’s heart gave out when I was 28 weeks pregnant. She was delivered at 29 weeks on January 1, 2009, after a week of induction process.
At week 14 during that first ultrasound that I had it that showed the severe hydrops and hygroma that she had acquired. We had the normal tests of amniocentesis and blood work to try to obtain answers. Our regular OB also performed an ultrasound on the baby’s heart but was clear he was not a specialist in that area and it was very early but he did think he detected something wrong.
It was about week 18 when we were sent to the cardiologist after obtaining results that amniocentesis and blood work were negative for chromosome issues. It was during this appointment that we got the devastating news that our sweet Emily would not make it here on earth alive. We were given our options and we decided we would continue the pregnancy as there was never a thought not too. You see she had some long technical name CHD that I don’t remember as I was so distraught that I didn’t take close enough note of it and also I knew there was 0% survival, no surgery that could be done while pregnant or after. I just know Emily only had 1 ventricle and 1 atrium and it was a complete AV block.
I asked and was willing to do and pay for any experimental treatment that would at least give Emily a chance for survival, there was nothing that anyone could do.
I will not say that waiting 10 weeks in the knowledge that Emily was going to pass was easy as it was not. It was one of the hardest things that I had to endure. It was doubly heart breaking as Emily was an active baby right until the end and I felt every move and kick that she provided to show her mommy she was still with her. I know the moment that she passed as it was Christmas morning and I had the most vivid dream (I normally don’t remember my dreams). I dreamed that I saw Emily being baptized in water. It was a very peaceful thing so I know it was not like she was drowning or anything, definitely like a baptism. I never felt her after that. Since it was a holiday I decided to wait until the Monday when they opened. Sure enough she had passed and we started the process for Emily to be delivered. Emily Ann Temple was born January 1, 2009, and had a grave side service that I had the poem, “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” as to me this represents my Emily to me now. She is always with me, my own special angel.
I then went on to get pregnant again only to miscarry on May 20, 2010. I was 9 weeks pregnant at that time, so there was no testing or determination that could be done to find out why.
I can conclude to say the Lord blessed me with Emma Rayne Temple on June 25, 2011, after being told she also would not make it. She has Turner Syndrome with bicuspid aortic heart valve, but thankfully to date that is all she has. She is joined at home with her older sister Erika Shae Temple who was born January 5, 2008, with no health complications during or after my pregnancy.
~Jennifer Temple
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