The first group that came in was Angel Watch. The volunteers at Angel Watch were very loving, caring, [...]]]> While Katie and Cory were going through their experience with little Jayden Dale, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, there were three different volunteer groups that came to help them deal with the loss of their child.

The first group that came in was Angel Watch. The volunteers at Angel Watch were very loving, caring, understanding and knowledgeable. They not only provided comfort, counseling and advice, but they also introduced the next two groups to come in and help Katie and Cory.

The second group to come in was Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, which consists of volunteer photographers who provide professional photography services at no cost. Their mission statement is, “To introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with the free gift of professional portraiture. We believe these images serve as an important step in the family’s healing process by honoring their child’s legacy.” By following this link to our Gallery, you can see some of the photos of Katie, Cory and Jayden Dale.

The third group to come in was Utah Share. This group is “a volunteer effort of concerned parents and healthcare professionals working together to help families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss.” After Jayden Dale’s arrival, two young mothers, who had gone through experiences similar to Katie’s, came in and visited with Katie and Cory. They also took molds of little Jayden Dale’s hands and feet and gave them to Katie and Cory. Utah Share provides on-going support and activities to help parents cope with their loss.

I was very impressed with the loving, caring nature of all the volunteers who came from each of these groups. Thank you!

“Sailing and life in general is dangerous. Teenagers drive cars. Does that mean teenagers shouldn’t drive a car?” Laurence Sunderland told the AP. “I think people [...]]]> Abby Sunderland’s father, Laurence Sunderland had a great response to the criticism that it was far too dangerous to allow a 16-year-old to sail around the world by herself:

“Sailing and life in general is dangerous. Teenagers drive cars. Does that mean teenagers shouldn’t drive a car?” Laurence Sunderland told the AP. “I think people who hold that opinion have lost their zeal for life. They’re living in a cotton-wool tunnel to make everything safe.”

Read the AP article

(Be prepared to get watery eyes!)

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.

They found out that the [...]]]> You are My Sunshine, My only Sunshine’

(Be prepared to get watery eyes!)

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.

They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in mommy’s tummy.

He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown , Tennessee

In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor.

Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Michael’s little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition.

With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, Knoxville ,Tennessee. The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.

Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral. Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. I want to sing to her, he kept saying.

Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over.

Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not.

If he didn’t see his sister right then, he may never see her alive.  She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU.

He looked like a walking laundry basket.

The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed,

‘Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed..’

The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse’s face, her lips a firm line.

‘He is not leaving until he sings to his sister’ she stated.

Then Karen towed Michael to his sister’s bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment, he began to sing.

In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang:

‘You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,

you make me happy when skies are gray.’

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond.

The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady.

‘Keep on singing, Michael,’ encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes.

‘You never know, dear, how much I love you,

please don’t take my sunshine away.’

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby’s ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten’s purr

‘Keep on singing, sweetheart.’

‘The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms’

Michael’s little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her.

‘Keep on singing, Michael.’

Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed.

‘You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

Please don’t take my sunshine away.’

The next day…the very next day, the little girl was well enough to go home.

Woman’s Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother’s Song.

The medical staff just called it a miracle.

Karen called it a miracle of God’s love.

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.

LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

Life is good.

Have a Wonderful Day!

In God We Trust!