Meet my nephew, Everett. Isn't he handsome? He was born February 11, 2013 in Plantaion, Fl. , weighing 5 lb. 4 oz. and a sweet 17.5 inches tall. His momma, Brenna, delivered him via c-section because of his heart rate dropping too quickly.
The doctors noticed quite a few things weren't working that well with his little body, so they took him away immediately for testing. When my mom told me the news I was crushed. I could picture it all too well. Brenna coming out of the anesthisia, wondering where her little one was. Hearing the news in disbelief and confusion.The one thing that makes the physical pain better was missing from her arms. Our family bonded through the hundreds of prayers we said for this little angel. I just knew that he had the best parents possible, and that God only sends these sweet spirits to such righteous couples. His big sister Cordelia June King (such a princess of a 3 year old) would be such a good friend to him, I could picture it. I'm quite the visual person, so I automatically picture their life with this big change. What a challenge, but a spiritual one at that, so that I would call it more a privillege. This is the picture (the one above) that made me fall in love with him. He definately has his sweet sisters doll mouth, and I just couldn't get over how perfect he looked. It was like his face was carved by the master of all doll makers (which I'm sure it was). I wanted to hold him so badly.
We were told that a geneticist was coming to further test Everett and determine a diagnosis. After much testing and long hours of worry he was diagnosed with Edwards syndrome (also known as Trisomy 18) which is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. One in every 6,000 children that are born have it, 80 percent being females. Why my little nephew?
When my sister called me to tell me this news I just fell down. This couldn't be right, I was sure that everybody was wrong. Brenna and Aaron are a healthy couple in their mid 20's.... they are married in the temple and take great care of their little girl. How can this even make sense or be fair both spiritually and physically? They were supposed to find a cure, or a surgery that would help him...not this. He was given days, maybe a few weeks to live.
My oldest, Elise who is 7, has quite the tender heart. She had been praying for her cousin constantly, making him cards and writing him a letter. One day when we were at my inlaws I couldn't find her and I was shocked that she wasn't playing with all of her other cousins and sister. I found her in the dinning room, alone. The room was dark, but there was a little light coming in behind her through the window. I asked her what she was doing, and she said, "I am writing Everett a letter, and drawing a picture of him so Brenna will remember what he looks like....mom, I think they named him Everett because we will remember him forever and ever".
On Sunday, February 3rd, precious baby boy went back to heaven. I won't lie, I felt jipped. I didn't get to meet my nephew. I wanted to see him and hold him. I could feel his spirit just looking at his pictures, it was amazing. I just knew it would be better in person. A huge part of me didn't want to believe what was said to be inevitable. I wish I could have been there to hold my little sister too. Through all this, I have realized how much I didn't know I loved her.
This other picture is a blanket I bought for him when Everett was a few days old. I wanted to send a fun package for him. I fell in love with it! It was perfect for him. It was so soft and just the right amount of cute with out overdoing it. Today I went to the store to return it....and I just couldn't. It felt wrong. Like I was giving up. For some reason it still doesn't feel real to me at times. My mind still wants to fight for him, and my heart aches for his wonderful parents, Aaron and Brenna.
