While we were in Belize we found out that one of our favorite people at the hotel was expecting a boy in June. Then after being there for a day or two we found out that his girlfriend delivered early. The baby was doing well for being 5 weeks early. (We later learned that they had a scare 2-3 weeks earlier and were really happy they made it another few weeks before baby boy made his entrance into the world.)
Yesterday, I was reading some of the local newspapers from Ambergris Caye online and saw an article about how 12 newborns had passed away at the government hospital in only 20 days. I was praying that our friend's baby was not one of them. I emailed the hotel manager to inquire about the baby and found out this morning that he passed away on Friday night. He contracted a virus that caused him to have 2 heart attacks. I am absolutely heartbroken. I am also very angry...there is a chance it was caused by a hospital based infection, which means it was likely carried by careless hospital staff.
Just this weekend we were out buying gifts for our friend's baby and had every intention of getting them into the mail before the weekend. We were hoping to pick him up a TX onesie or t-shirt first.
I am not sure how to end this post, expect to ask you to please keep our friend in your thoughts.
Oh my gosh that is so sad and it sounds like it was totally avoidable. These poor parents of the 12 babies. My heart goes out to all of them and hoping the hospital is held responsible for the standard that should have been higher
ReplyDeleteI was really in shock when I read the article.
DeleteI am so sorry for your friend's heartbreak. No one should ever face the anguish of losing a child, and my thoughts and prayers go out to them. May I gently suggest, as a babyloss parent myself, that your friends might really appreciate a special gift in honour of their baby in any case?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the suggestion...I know once I tell J he will want to do something for them.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear this news. Losing a child is one of the hardest things anyone will live through. I agree with Sadie about sending a special gift honoring their son. Too often people pull away out of fear of causing more harm when in reality isolating them is far more damaging. A gift would be a way to let them know you're grieving with them.
ReplyDeleteHere's a site worth checking out: http://theseashoreofremembrance.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much - I will definitely check out that site.
DeleteHow absolutely heartbreaking. :( My thoughts and prayers are with them. I can't even imagine what they're going through right now.
ReplyDelete