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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:
Sidge · 23/02/2022 19:39

Happy birthday to Emma. She is just beautiful, all that hair and those big bright eyes!

Emma means “whole” or “complete” or “universal” and she has completed you. I’m sorry she couldn’t stay longer and share all that sass with the world.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. She was here, she lived, she mattered and she was your Emma.

dancemusicsexromance · 23/02/2022 19:43

I've cried and been more than touched by your writing and your love for Emma.

Happy birthday beautiful girl.
You've touched many people.

Your mum is amazing. Thanks

SingingSands · 23/02/2022 19:44

Happy birthday to your beautiful Emma. Your words are so touching. Sending love and thinking of you, Emma and her brother ❤️

Flackattack · 23/02/2022 19:47

The way you describe her life is so achingly sad but beautiful

topcat2014 · 23/02/2022 19:50

Thank you for sharing your story x

quietlyspoken08 · 23/02/2022 19:56

Happy Birthday beautiful Emma ❤️ sending lots of love your way OP your words are so moving.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 23/02/2022 19:59

Happy Birthday gorgeous Emma! You sound such a wonderful Mummy. Thanks

Citygirl2019 · 23/02/2022 20:03

Happy Birthday Emma, love to you both x

HereticFanjo · 23/02/2022 20:03

FuckThatBullshit · 23/02/2022 20:04

I'm crying. Happy birthday Emma xx 💕

Quichetiger · 23/02/2022 20:04

Happy birthday Emma. So much love to you and your family OP

MrsCremuel · 23/02/2022 20:04

She sounds like a beautiful and brave little girl. I’m so sorry OP. She was here and she mattered and always will.xxx

DeathWinsAGolfish · 23/02/2022 20:05

Thank you for sharing photos of your beautiful little Emma.
Happy Birthday to her. ThanksCakeThanks

Mygirlis15today · 23/02/2022 20:08

Oh wow, what a lot of lovely responses from amazing people ❤ for you all to take the time to read about my beautiful Emma is truly overwhelming. One of the hardest things about not having her here is realising that it's now only really my life that she touched and that's why I share her story on her birthday or anniversary each year on MN. It makes her seem more real, if that makes sense.

To know that you have read about her and seen her photos and let me know that she has impacted tour lives even for a few minutes is so humbling so thank you all.

@ineedtostop I'm so sorry that you don't have the father you deserve. I cut contact with my parent a long time ago and I know just how hard it is, but its a lot easier than hanging about hoping for scraps of love that you will never get. You have done a brave thing and I hope the wounds heal quickly for you.

@Charleymouse I am so sorry to read of your precious boy. This is such an awful place to be and I'm sorry you're here too. I'll keep an eye out in case you start a thread on your boys special day and I will be there lighting a candle for him as others have done for Emma today.

This really is MN at its best, I totally agree. I only share my son and daughter on here nowadays, it's been too long and nobody really cares about a story from the past, but MN is a real godsend for parents like me. There is always support here and people don't talk enough about that side of MN at all.

My dc had tea and then lit a candle and sent Emma a wish and had a slice of angel cake. We chose two stars and waved at them both and blew kisses and then they snuggled down in bed. I'm just away for a long hot bath and to wish the rest of the hours of this day away.

Thank you all for your support, you're all amazing Flowers

OP posts:
NatriumChloride · 23/02/2022 20:17

Oh OP. What a heartbreaking read. Sending you love and prayers on your darling little daughter Emma’s birthday. Xxx

Littlepaws18 · 23/02/2022 20:24

Happy birthday Emma xx you so looked like your mom (I bet she has sass too) xx

IhateHSBC · 23/02/2022 20:25

Emma looks absolutely beautiful in those photographs and your words about her are beautiful too. Happy Birthday lovely Emma Flowers

Thank you for telling us all about your daughter OP.

Daisylookslost · 23/02/2022 20:32

I didn’t see her photos when I posted - she’s absolutely beautiful, a wonderful little girl with the best mummy who obviously loves her dearly x

insatiableme · 23/02/2022 20:41

Happy birthday Emma ❤️ such a beautiful little girl xx

scrivette · 23/02/2022 20:43

Thank you for sharing your story and for allowing us to share in Emma's day. You wrote so beautifully about all of your children.

cataline · 23/02/2022 20:45

Remembering your Emma on her special day. Sending you much love.

HermioneWeasley · 23/02/2022 20:47

Thank you for telling us about your beautiful Emma and how she changed your life.

crouchingpheasant · 23/02/2022 20:48

Happy birthday beautiful Emma. She is obviously so loved. Sending lots of love to you Thanks

Lovemusic33 · 23/02/2022 20:48

Happy birthday Emma ❤️

HeyDiddleDee · 23/02/2022 20:48

Happy birthday beautiful, precious (and sassy) Emma. You write so beautifully OP, you and Emma have touched many hearts today. I’m so sorry for your losses.