Getting married to my soul mate is one of the greatest decisions of my life. In addition to planning our new beautiful life together, we decided we wanted to have a baby. After years of trying, we were blessed to know we would soon be having a baby girl. We picked out names and talked about where her new room would be. Making all these plans was exciting.
Suddenly, my wife began to experience intense pain. After being sent home multiple times by doctors and then returning repeatedly, it was confirmed my wife was going into labor. The doctor said she has a 15% chance to be born alive if she is born naturally. The doctor then said if she is born through Caesarean section, she would have a 20% chance of survival. We grasped on to that extra 5%.
On January 6th, our daughter Faith beat the odds. Seeing her for the first time was beautiful yet concerning. Her lungs were not developed properly, leaving all her breathing support coming from a machine. I sat there thankful for each breath she was given, not knowing which one would be her last. Faith would do well; then she would flatline again right in front of me and then recover again. Watching my child die and come back to life had now become routine for me. After fighting for every moment, I watched my child flatline for the final time.
We held her in our arms as she took her last breath. Walking out of the hospital empty-handed was my worst nightmare.
My daughter died at 42 days old, leaving a permanent hole in my heart. My idea of a picture-perfect family was shattered until a million pieces.
Years later, I’m still trying to pick up the pieces and searching for answers.
I have accepted the fact I might never get a clear reason as to why this happened. The never-ending questions of why? Have only led to despair. I decided to ask different questions, such as what’s next? And what do you do when the unthinkable happens?
I have learned the power of sharing my story. Although my story and your story are different, we can still relate to one another. Over the past year, all of us have lost something.
Some of us lost a loved one, marriage, friendship, finances, health, freedom, job, and many others.
Since we all have suffered heartbreak, we all have a powerful story to share. I decided that healing was the best option for my family and me. Every time I share my story, another piece of my broken heart comes back together, not fully but fuller.
Knowing what it feels like to be hopeless, the only hope I received was empowering myself to share my experiences with the world.
The entire world is a platform to share my story. Whether it’s on a stage, book, blog, gas station, or grocery store, the opportunities are endless. Sharing my story has changed my life. I am grateful for every moment to continue my healing process while helping other people heal.
Do not wait another day to make a difference. There are many people counting on you to share your story. We are all called to spread H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday). The question is, when will you answer the call?
