Highlights of a Little Life

Since tomorrow is Good Friday, I decided today was the time to post my memorial tribute to my daughter who passed away on April 2, 2006. I wrote the following memorial on her first Heavenly birthday, but was not ready to let people see it at that time. This year, I am ready. As with any of my other children, I am a proud and loving mother and I like to brag about my kids around the time of their birthdays. This is no different.

Highlights of a Life

Fiona May was a gentle baby who loved to give her Mama soft kicks at bedtime. Her heartbeat always showed strong and true throughout the pregnancy, beginning at 12 weeks. That's when her Daddy nicknamed her "Thumper" because of that strong and persistent heartbeat.

That nickname "stuck" and soon all of Fiona's siblings were calling her "Thumper" - whether they were referring to her or addressing her directly through her Mama's belly.

After a very healthy, full-term pregnancy, Fiona died sometime during the early afternoon and was delivered by C-section soon thereafter. No reason for her death was discovered.

Her Daddy held her close, shortly after delivery.

Fiona was baptized by her "Hamma", her maternal grandmother. Both her Hamma and Hampa stood in as proxy-godparents for her chosen godparents, who were present in loving spirit.

Later, Fiona's older brothers and sister, maternal aunts and uncles, and godfather joined Kyle, Mary Kate, Hamma, and Hampa for a blessing and prayer service led by hospital chaplain, Fr. Peter. We all had a lot of time to hold Fiona, kiss her, bless and anoint her, and tell her how much we loved her.

Her beautiful funeral mass was celebrated on April 8, 2006 by family friend, Fr. Brendan O'Sullivan. The outpouring of love and support for our family was overwhelming.

Fiona was 20 inches long, weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and had a lot of beautiful black hair framing her pretty, pink face. We'll never know the color of her eyes. They opened in Heaven.

Every mother knows the feeling of never being alone during her pregnancy. Fiona's whole family will have that feeling all of their lives.

We have realized that this awful tragedy begins to feel, at times, like a rare joy, a gift. Our daughter, our sister will always exist in God's perfect happiness. Fiona will always know peace and unsurpassed love. She will always be ready, willing, and able to give that peace and love to all who ask her. How blessed we are to have God grant both Fiona and us this very powerful grace.