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My little girl is 15 today 😪

335 replies

Mygirlis15today · 23/02/2022 13:37

My baby is 15.

I cant believe it.

I'm just going to have a ramble on about her, if someone doesn't mind having a listen.

On her birthday and anniversary especially I like to talk about her. She doesn't seem real sometimes, and I think of all the people who's lives she would have touched had the world been blessed with her for more than 2 weeks.

I had a difficult pregnancy, I knew something was wrong, I was told multiple times I was paranoid as my dear sweet son had died 8 years previously.

Sadly at her birth I was proved right.

I had her and looked at her beautiful dark eyes and her shock of dark hair and she literally took my breath away. All I saw was a perfect angel, however after a few seconds the midwife whisked her away.

I was in the birthing room for 2 hours, nobody telling me anything apart from she was having some difficulties and I was unable to see her. That's when I sat and thought of her name and decided on Emma.

Before I was eventually allowed to see her I had 3 doctors come and see me. I couldn't tell you what they said after "she is having some difficulties ..." I didn't care what it was I was certain my baby and I would tackle any obstacle together.

When I walked into the intensive care unit I saw that beautiful shock of hair and walked over to her incubator and my heart broke.

My little girl was on a ventilator, unable to breathe alone, her leg had apparently broken at some point in pregnancy and had set as had her hand.

She was 7lb so, compared to some of the little ones she was massive, but she was so, so poorly.

The doctors were amazing, truly, they did every test on my little girl, they spent hours looking at everything they could, her doctor even set his retirement back by a week so he could see her case through.

I spent so many hours reading to her, singing to her (poor baby) and stroking her face. She had the most obnoxious eye roll when someone annoyed her, and it was always right on cue 😂 she was well known for it among the nursing staff. I was the recipient of quite a few, usually when I was being over emotional.

I was unable to hold her for a week as her bones were so brittle. After a week they allowed it in the hope of a miracle recovery I think, I didn't really hold her in my arms, she was on a board so I didn't hurt her, but I still treasure that cuddle so much.

All of her tests came back and they were no further forward in finding out what she had. All they did know is that she was suffering so much and that her poor broken body just didn't work.

The day I realised what had to happen was when the doctor took me into a room and showed me an xray. It looked like pieces of thread that had been cracked and I was very confused until he explained that I was looking at my darling girls ribcage. By this point my darling girl had started to swell up as she couldn't move at all too.

Looking back I think the doctors had been preparing me for this for days, but I chose not to hear it.

They said there was nothing further they could do and she was starting to get an infection from the ventilator and that the best thing for her was to take her off the ventilator.

I, selfishly, asked for one last night with her, it was so horrendous knowing the next day would be the day I lost her.

I spent the whole night with her telling her how loved she is.

When the next day came they offered to put a curtain around her incubator and said that they would ask other parents not to come in for 10 minutes, I wasn't comfortable with that and asked if we could go to a room ourselves.

The room they put us in was little more than a cupboard, but at least we were alone.

I put the radio on and sang to her, I had asked them to put her morphine right up so she felt nothing so she probably didn't hear me talking to her.

Then the most awful time came, I had to go and find the nurse and ask her to come and take my beautiful girl off her ventilator. The nurse was amazing, I'll never forget her.

She came in and quietened all the machines so they wouldn't beep and then removed her ventilator. This was only the second time I had seen her beautiful mouth, I gave my girl a kiss and then I opened a window so she could finally escape the hospital and fly free. I held her as her heart slowly stopped beating and she died in my arms surrounded by all the live in the world.

I carefully washed and dressed her broken body, she hadn't worn clothes for the two weeks of her life and she looked so peaceful and snuggly in her little baby grow.

I left her there with her little Teddy that had always been by her side and went home just empty and broken.

I gave her the same funeral as her brother had, and my beautiful Emma was scattered in the same garden as her brother too.

My heart is heavy today, I miss my daughter so much, even though she has been gone for so much longer than she was here her little life has had such a huge impact on mine.

I hope that I will see her again someday, running and happy and free, as she should have been in life, and no doubt causing mischief with her brother too Smile

Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to read what has turned out to be a novel. It's important to me that she still has an impact in the world.

Emma was here, and she mattered, and she is so, so loved ❤

OP posts:
TheTempest · 23/02/2022 13:39

Happy birthday Emma, and a great big cuddle to you OP on your little girls birthday xxx

DoctorMarten · 23/02/2022 13:39

Sending much love your way 🤗

savemejebus · 23/02/2022 13:42

❤️ happy birthday Emma, sending both of you much much love xx

wouldyoupleasem · 23/02/2022 13:42

Your love is evident OP Thanks

Photolass · 23/02/2022 13:42

I am so, so sorry to read your heartbreaking story.
Birthdays must be so hard for you.
I wish I could give you a hug and put the kettle on but I can't.
Perhaps you think that Emma couldn't hear you, but I am sure she felt your love for her.
It's no consolation, but I wish you peace and happiness in your life. Flowers

Lougle · 23/02/2022 13:43

She sounds amazing. What a precious girl. I'm so sorry you don't have answers.

addler · 23/02/2022 13:43

Happy birthday Emma Thanks

adollopofthisandthat · 23/02/2022 13:43

Yes Emma was here, and she mattered and she is so, so loved. Thank you for telling me about her and I'm sorry the time you had together was so short and so difficult.

You will see her again one day, and then you will have all the time in the world together xx

Comedycook · 23/02/2022 13:44
Flowers Sending you love
movehimintothesun · 23/02/2022 13:44

Sending love to you and to Emma on her special day. You will carry her heart with you always. 💕

Chilver · 23/02/2022 13:45

Happy Birthday Emma.

OP, your love and compassion for your beautiful girl has made me well up - your Emma was truly loved and so special and I will never forget her now.

Flowers
PinkSkiesAtNight · 23/02/2022 13:45

I'm so sorry for your loss. I too have been there, though a little further along. Talk about your darling Emma as much as you need. She is with you, and always will be. Happy Birthday, beautiful girl. Sending love.

Crowdfundingforcake · 23/02/2022 13:45

Thank you for telling us about your beautiful girl. You packed so much love into such a short time. Happy 15th birthday, Emma.

bloodywhitecat · 23/02/2022 13:46

You write so beautifully of you and your Emma, much love to you and a happy birthday to Emma. She has had an impact on me, I am a stranger across the internet and she has had an impact.

Bobbobchampagne · 23/02/2022 13:46

This has really touched me. Happy birthday Emma, who is so very loved. Sending you a hug OP x

Mindymomo · 23/02/2022 13:46

Happy Birthday to your darling girl Emma, sending you hugs for your loss of both of your children.

Benjaminbunnyslettuce · 23/02/2022 13:47

Happy birthday to Emma, your love for her just shines out Flowers

Outlyingtrout · 23/02/2022 13:47

Emma was important and she made a difference in the world. The depth of your love is so evident in your writing. She had the best mummy to love her and comfort her. Take good care of yourself x

Junibug · 23/02/2022 13:47

Happy birthday beautiful Emma 💖

marplemead · 23/02/2022 13:48

Thank you so much for sharing your precious memories of your beautiful daughter. Happy birthday Emma ❤️

freeingNora · 23/02/2022 13:48

Happy Birthday darling Emma Daffodilxx

lunar1 · 23/02/2022 13:48

Happy Birthday to your beautiful girl. I'm imagining she is watching over you 💕

You sound like an incredible mum to her.

Misspacorabanne · 23/02/2022 13:48

Happy birthday Emma!! Thinking of you op on your little girls birthday! Flowers I'm sure she's watching over you op! Xx

MerryMarigold · 23/02/2022 13:49

Bless you, Emma. 23.2.2006 seems so recent to me. Thanks for sharing her story.

FAQs · 23/02/2022 13:49

Oh goodness she sounds a fighter and gorgeous, sending love to you and your children. X