Ten Random Facts:

Here are ten random things that have all tied in to our story, that I feel are important to share. Due to a lack of a better way to share them, I've created this list. Some things are good, some things are not so good (there are even some things I initially viewed negatively, but now see them in a positive light. Isn't it great how time can change our perspective?). Anyway, these are listed in no particular order:

1.) Actually, this should be first because your prayers are needed. One of my college roommates had a baby girl the end of March. On June 1st her little girl has to have her second open heart surgery, this time to replace her heart valves (the only parts of Emma we were able to donate were her heart valves). Please pray for her recovery.

2.) Three weeks after Emma died, after struggling with how to approach us, our next door neighbors informed us they had adopted a little girl that was born September 18th (Emma was born September 19th).

3.) About six weeks after the fact, we received a computer generated letter from my OB/Gyn's Clinic "Congratulating" us on the birth of our baby (no joke!). They have since assured me that this will not happen to other bereaved parents.

4.) We also received a letter addressed to "Baby Girl (Last Name)" that started out saying "Dear Heart Patient". It was a letter to inform Emma of a new medical center that was opening in Colorado that specializes in cardiovascular health. Do I really have to be the one to tell them that heart donors are no longer in need of their services? I decided to let that one go.

5.) One of the best things we did was join a support group through the local Hospice that was created specifically for parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn or infant death. We still keep in touch with two of the couples and I am happy to say that one of the couples is already expecting again.

6.) Through that same couple, we have since learned of an OB/Gyn in Louisiana that actually cares why our baby died! He has devoted the last 25 years to studying the tragedy of umbilical cord accidents and has since developed a monitoring program for subsequent pregnancies to help predict and prevent such a loss. (Definitely more on this later!)

7.) All the little pink clothes are still hanging in the closet. The room itself was never 100% ready and has slowly become a storage area while we try to finish our basement.

8.) I occasionally babysit a four month old boy and a four month old girl that were born just a week apart.

9.) Mother's Day didn't bother me. Memorial Day didn't bother me. The most recent time that I almost "lost it" was during a class I took to renew my CPR certification, during the infant part of course. That's how it works - when you least expect it.

10.) And finally, I must end on a positive. One of the most wonderful things that has happened as a result of our story can be told in this email I received from a friend, announcing that he and his wife were expecting their first child: "I'm not really sure how to say this, but we decided to start this new family on the way home from Emma's service. We were blown away after witnessing how much love Emma created for everyone around her in such a short time. We realized then exactly how much we were missing out on. Although we never met Emma, we feel like she has touched our lives in a profound way as well. Hopefully we'll learn to be great parents like you guys!"