Tragic Losses in a Family's Journey
A family recounts a succession of devastating infant deaths that unfolded over a short span of time. The first loss came when a father held his son and watched him struggle to breathe. He spoke words of love and, with heartbreaking acceptance, told the child it was all right to let go.
Previous Heartache
Grief was compounded by an earlier loss: the child had a brother who had been born already deceased. That absence lingered alongside the new sorrow.
Farewell to a Daughter
One year later the family returned to a hospital room to say farewell to a daughter lost during pregnancy. Her movements in the womb inspired the name they chose—tied to fire—and she was remembered as uniquely precious among the children.
The Brief Life of a Newborn
Almost forty-eight hours after that goodbye, another infant arrived and fought for an hour. Though strong in those first moments, he faded quickly after being placed in his mother’s arms. The family wondered whether he had waited for her presence before leaving.
The Youngest Baby Girl
The final departure was the youngest baby girl. As the mother whis...