Two weeks ago, after our 20-week ultrasound, Jeremy Bird and I decided to tell the world we were having a baby boy. The response from our community was overwhelming. A week and a half later, our joy suddenly turned to sorrow. On Tuesday, February 25, at 4:13 pm, after a week-long, intense battle with a ruptured appendix, I gave pre-term birth to a beautiful little baby boy. He really was beautiful. He had his dad’s nose, his mom’s mouth and even a little bit of hair. He was 11 inches long and weighed one pound, one ounce. He was precious, innocent, remarkable. We got to hold him for a few hours. Our parents were there to hold him. My sister, Emily, was there too. We wrapped him in a beautiful blue blanket and told him over and over again how much we loved him. We named him Elijah. Unfortunately, Elijah came too soon. His lungs weren’t yet formed, and he was just not able to survive on his own. We lost our baby boy. We are devastated and heart broken. We miss him more than we ever thought possible. It has been a really difficult week for us. But, our community of friends and family has also overwhelmed us again – they have supported us with more love and kindness than any two people could ever deserve. In this time of profound sadness, we find so much life and love in the friends and family who have been there beside us. We know that sorrow is not forever. Love is. We know that time will heal our pain. Many people have asked us what they can do to help. During this time, we have been so grateful for the great healthcare we received and for our insurance that has allowed us to get that care without ever asking if we could afford it. Enroll America is doing the important work necessary to get Americans enrolled. If you are looking for a way to show your support, we ask that you donate in our names and in the name of our son, Elijah. You can donate here: getcoveredamerica.org/betsy-and-bird/ Thanks to our community who has carried us and continues to carry us through this time. We’ll get there. It is a process, but we know we will get through it. And no matter what, we are grateful for little Elijah and the gift he will always be in our lives.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:48:26 +0000
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