3.  Our Stillborn and Still Born Daughters

We were all so excited!  Our eighth child was due on April 11^th, and we had purchased all new clothing and necessities, including a beautiful new cradle.  We had not previously been so financially prepared for our other children, and our family was energized by our new business that allowed us to provide more than everyday needs.  We could happily afford extras for this baby.

Dinnertimes involved discussing names for our expected family member, when our three-year old son would excitedly jump up and down and insist that his new sibling would be a boy names, “JESUS!”  Let’s name him Jesus!”

On the due date, we had friends to dinner, and celebrated the child we would accept into our lives any day.  It was a wonderful Sunday that April 11^th as we attended Mass together, then visited and shared the day with our friends and family.  It had been a good and healthy pregnancy, expected now to end with the birth of our eighth child.

During that night I had a dream that my baby had died.  I woke up crying and realized that I hadn’t felt the baby move since we were walking into Mass the day before.

©Pat Montesano 2008 All Rights Reserved.