Stephanie and Michael's journey began long before Sophia was born. Her entire pregnancy was riddled with ups and downs that Sophia wasn't going to make it, that they should terminate even though no one could tell them what was wrong. Her growth was slowing but they didn't know why and ultimately they delivered a tiny but beautiful little girl with dark hair and a fierce cry at 28 weeks and 3 days! It was right here in the same hospital i'm in now. Stephanie was even in the same antepartum unit on bed rest for a week- but a different kind where she wasn't allowed to get up at all. They also went to the same NICU where baby Brady will most likely go. They rode a daily roller coaster of calls about fevers, infections, blood transfusions, running to the hospital in the middle of the work day or night. It was scary but Sophia had proven everyone wrong and was growing and surviving. Then things took a turn for the worse. Sophia became incredibly sick. They were transferred to Seattle Children's Hospital where they were more specialized and better equipped to care for her. They spent over a month doing test after test adding more tubes and more drugs to no avail and no answers. Stephanie and Michael could no longer hold or soothe their baby girl. They had to watch as she cried but made no noise because of the tubes in her mouth and throat. Their doctor finally pinpointed a very rare liver condition and not knowing whether Sophia had it or not started treating her for it. And the week of Christmas, Sophia started to make some progress. Granted she had been through so much so she had a long way to go but there was hope. Ultimately it just wasn't enough. In her mother's words "Sophia was born too early and underdeveloped. Her spirit wasn't. Her spirit wanted to and fought to be with us. She hung on with all she had. She hung on to her life. But it was her organs that were not able to sustain her strong spirit. Sophia was and always will be our hero, our rock star, our everything. May she rest in peace and may her spirit find its way back to us when she's ready."
I share all this to say that my silly little bed rest problems are a blessing. Its a blessing that I met Stephanie and Michael and had the honor of watching them be the most amazing parents I've ever seen. Steph and I were supposed to go for walks with our babies together and bitch about Seattle weather. She was supposed to sing to our kiddos with her beautiful voice, since I can't. I had no doubt in my mind. I will never be the same because of what they went through. I will be a better mom. I will never forget Sophia and will make sure that Baby Brady knows her story.
Even with everything Stephanie is going through, she texts me every day to ask me how Baby Brady is doing and encourages me. I cry every time she does. While all of this has broken her, she's still the same crazy person that only thinks of others and not herself.
I dedicate this journey I'm on to Baby Sophia and her beautiful mom, Stephanie. So far all of you thinking about us and praying for us, please do the same for Baby Sophia and her mourning family. Thanks for bearing with me through this long and sobering post.
I promise to return to more bed rest shenanigans and updates tomorrow in the hopes that I can bring a chuckle or a smile back to Stephanie's face one day soon.
Love you all!
Janet
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