My heart is breaking for the two families who lost a child within the last few days… just the thought of Cinsere not making it was heart wrenching enough… but as soon as the relief of knowing his condition was improving began to resonate, I learned of two other families who weren’t quite so lucky. On December 6, Kristine Brite {@kristinebrite} lost her 5 day old. She quietly passed away while nursing. This afternoon, Shellie {@military_mom} found her 2 year old son had fallen in their swimming pool. He passed away. She just put her Christmas tree up today.
I simply cannot imagine … most of us cannot. I know how heartbroken I am thinking about their loss, and it’s not even my own. I don’t know either of these moms… but I’m devastated for them. I think about Kristine and the shock she felt as she looked down to see her unresponsive newborn. I think about Shellie and the sheer terror in her gut when she found her 2 year old son at the bottom of their pool. I can literally FEEL the knot in my stomach… the tightening of my throat… the confusion and 
the disbelief… I can FEEL the pain of thinking what if I looked down 30 seconds sooner?? or what if I found him 60 seconds before?? I can hear, “GOD NO!!!!!!!” and “WHYYYYY?!?!?” in the back of my mind. I can feel the immediate desperation in needing to hold out hope that by some miracle, my child would be okay. All of these things rush through my mind as I think of how each of these mothers feel… as though their heart has been turned inside out and crushed… yet I’ve never been there. I’ve never known that pain. So I can only imagine. Then, at the same time… I can’t imagine.
Christmas is but 11 days away. The most joyous time of the year. I think of the gifts Shellie had purchased, proudly waiting for Christmas Eve to put them under the tree in anticipation of a magical Christmas morning for the first year her son could really grasp the excitement and it makes me cry. Tears well up and my heart just burns for her family, knowing the despair they are feeling. I imagine Kristine, weeks ago looking forward to having her baby in her arms, celebrating Christmas with this precious little blessing she housed in her womb for 9 months, loving and nourishing and waiting… it breaks my heart. There is no deeper way to describe it.
Please keep these families, and all the families who have endured loss, in your prayers. Hold your children close to you this holiday season. I pray that you realize how precious this moment is and how uncertain the next moment may be. Never take one second for granted… none of these mothers had any clue that the last time they saw their child would be the last time they saw their child alive. No matter what you have to complain about right now, just know that it is nothing compared to what these families are going through. When you think of all the things you don’t have or all the things you can’t do, just be reminded that no matter what you can’t do or can’t buy… all of it would mean nothing without your children. Cherish them.
My heart goes out to everyone who has experienced loss.
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Both families are in my thoughts and prayers. This is so very, very sad.
.-= 1stopmom´s last blog ..Looking for Jewelry =-.
So very sad. I didn’t know either of these ladies but as a mom my heart goes out to them. May God forever comfort them.
.-= Dee@CWM´s last blog ..Happy Birthday To Me! =-.
I teared up reading this. I did imagine Christmas with my newborn, Cora my first child. We have a stocking decorated for her. At the funeral, we put out a pink christmas tree with all of her ornaments.
A moving post. Thank you for sharing Cora’s story.
.-= Kristine Brite McCormick´s last blog ..Cora’s story =-.
Awww *hugs* I’m so sorry sweetheart :(
Thank you for writing such an article, I have chatted with Kristine about her loss, we share a common bond in the loss of a child due to Congenital Heart Defects — not many that have not lost a child can come up with the emotions encompassing that loss, but you have done so beautifully. Christmas this year is the most difficult ever, expecting to be buying presents for my son this year, putting them neatly under a tree I’m planning charity events for the It’s My Heart Foundation in memory of him. Our stories are complex each a different journey to the same tragic loss, hopefully we are strong enough to inspire others to spend a little more time with their children, hug them a little tighter, exercise in patience and love and to give to others less fortunate than ourselves. May God Bless you and your family this Christmas and thank you for writing such a beautiful article.
.-= Levi Beers´s last blog ..The Gifts of Aiden Matthew Beers, A CHD Angel =-.
Thank you for commenting… Bless you!!! You and Kristine are both so strong and I commend you both for speaking out and educating others about your experience! *hugs*
It is so so so sad. Life is confusing and not fair. I sat in my car yesterday and just cried my eyes out for these families and other families like them. They’re all in my prayers and thoughts every day.
Prayers that God May comfort their pain in this time of need.
I lost a sister at 6months old and that still aches my heart and its been over 20 yrs. I could never imagine loosing one of my own. I hope that they find comfort in pictures and their memories knowing the blessing of the days they shared. Hugs and prayers for both Mothers.
.-= Night Owl mama´s last blog ..Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving: Pledge to Not Drink and Drive! =-.
So very true…we need to treasure the gifts we have, every chance we can, and not take their presence in our lives for granted.
My heart also aches and breaks for those who have lost, or are in the midst of battling for life…and for all who will be lost, whether it’s known of beforehand or not.
Happy Holidays to everyone, and warm hugs and love to all of the grieving families this holiday season. I ache for you all.
Happy Holidays to you as well!! There are so many families going through similar things and it really is heartbreaking. It makes me terribly sad for them and terribly thankful that I don’t know that pain all at the same time …