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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:
stormy11 · 23/02/2022 20:49

Happy Birthday Emma! So sorry to hear what you have been through. ❤

MrsAliceRichards · 23/02/2022 20:51

OP I am so very very sorry. Happy birthday to dear Emma.

fullofpips · 23/02/2022 20:52

What a beautiful post, your words have me in tears. Happy birthday Emma.

fortheloveofcheesecake · 23/02/2022 20:53

Happy birthday Emma!
What beautiful words and photos. Thank you for sharing Emma with us. Thinking of you x

grapewine · 23/02/2022 20:54

You write about your darling girl so lovingly that I am properly crying for both of you. What a cherished girl she clearly was. Happy birthday to Emma and thank you for sharing your heart, OP. Achingly beautiful.

Mother87 · 23/02/2022 20:56

ThanksThanksThanks

findingsomeone · 23/02/2022 21:04

Oh OP, what a beautiful post. Your love for your daughter shines through. I have tears streaming down my face. Happy Birthday, Emma ❤️

nocoolnamesleft · 23/02/2022 21:10

Happy birthday beautiful Emma. What wonderful hair, and stunning eyes. She definitely looked like she was giving the nurse some serious side eye. We are truly honoured that you have shared such precious photos with us.

badlydrawnbear · 23/02/2022 21:34

Emma was a beautiful baby. I am so sorry she didn’t get to stay with you. Thank you for sharing her story and photos. She is clearly very loved by you and her siblings. Take care of yourself on such a difficult day.

Daisy03 · 23/02/2022 21:37

She is so very beautiful. Happy birthday Emma, and hugs to you ❤️

AuraBora · 23/02/2022 21:43

Thank you for sharing your story and telling us about your beautiful girl, Emma.

Amnotamug · 24/02/2022 00:04

Have just popped back onto this thread….Emma was a beautiful baby …be proud of the fact that you are her wonderful Mummy 💕

liliainterfrutices · 24/02/2022 01:09

Thinking of your beautiful little girl. I love the name Emma Flowers

lemmein · 24/02/2022 03:01

Ahh OP, that was a beautiful post, sincerely, your love for your girl shone through every single word. Happy birthday Emma, thoughts are with you and your brave mum Thanks

TheDuchessOfBeddington · 24/02/2022 03:10

What an adorable darling. I’m sure she is looking down from you in heaven with that same sassy smile. I can’t even write this properly as my eye are full of tears, but wanted to say I will pray for you all tonight.

God bless you Emma. Sleep tight little one. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

headspin10 · 25/02/2022 03:24

That is so beautifully written 😭 Have you heard of social vs physical death? You are keeping her alive socially by remembering her and talking about her.

I always think about how energy can't be created or destroyed, so her energy is without doubt still somewhere.

Sending ♥️💖💖 to you xxx

headspin10 · 25/02/2022 03:28

P.s. just saw her photos - she's so beautiful! AND you can see her sparky personality even so young!! Happy birthday Emma xxx

Mygirlis15today · 25/02/2022 19:54

Thank you all so much for your beautiful messages.

Before I posted I was very down, feeling lonely and sad, although my dc and I commemorate Emma I can't really spend the day depressed in front of them.

You all allowed me to talk about Emma, and you looked at her photos and mentioned her by name and that has warmed my heart so much. It may just have been 5 minutes reading an anonymous post to you, but it really is beyond words what it means to me. For a few hours on her birthday I could show off my little girl and talk about her without having to think about anyone's feelings but my own and that is probably the most important and special thing you can do for a bereaved parent.

Thank you all so much for your kindness Flowers

I wish each and every one of you only good things in life ❤

OP posts:
justaweeone · 25/02/2022 20:38

💞x

Emelene · 25/02/2022 20:47

Lots of love to you and your family. Thank you for sharing about your beautiful girl.

Goonergirl14 · 25/02/2022 20:48

So sorry, what beautiful words you have written Flowers

movinghelprequired · 25/02/2022 20:51

Thanksto you & Emma x

romdowa · 25/02/2022 21:03

Happy birthday to your beautiful Emma ❤❤❤ huge hugs to you xx

N0va · 25/02/2022 21:49

I missed this post on Emma's birthday. Happy belated birthday Emma. What beautiful words you have spoken OP, my heart breaks for you and sends you so much love. Thank you for sharing photos of Emma. I love her sparkly eyes, what a wonderful personality shining through. Thanks

Namechange600 · 25/02/2022 21:54

I am so sorry - your baby girl Emma and your DS. Heartbroken. She was beautiful and your love for her is so strong xx 💕💕

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