Poetry 4

MY SYMBOL OF LOVE

To bear to hold for all to see
to cherish and love
it wasn't meant to be
A river of tears
my breaking heart
it hurts so much
to be apart

A ray of light
diminishing fear
my shining star
you seem so near

My hope, my courage
my fleeting dove
my precious angel
my symbol of love

By Bridget, whose unborn daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome

Your Soul Will Fly

I saw your picture
I felt your kick
Your heartbeat so strong
How could you possibly be sick

Your sweet nose
Your beautiful face
Your ten perfect toes
I know I could never replace

The dream of a child
In a strong and healthy body
The dream was shattered
My mind left scattered

I said goodbye to you
Your precious life I will cease to hold
The world became brighter
When God took your soul

The pain so deep
The hurt so strong
A decision was made
Both of which were wrong

Can you forgive us for making this choice
We made it for you
Though you had no voice

I hope you can feel our love up above
And know that we made this choice
Completely out of love

In this physical world
Your little body at war
But in God's loving arms
Your soul will soar.

Electric Heart

In your heart, a light shone so bright.
Evidence of such incredible flaws, but ironically I smiled at the sight.
What an odd sign from God that my child would be sick

A little soul shone electric

When the sun disappears and the stars come out to play.
I dream of seeing you again someday.
Your star is the brightest.
In the heavens it will stay,
watching over mortal children day by day.

Above poems written by Elisabeth's Mom. - Elisabeth was diagnosed with Trisomy 21

My Incomplete One

You were concevied with love but,
part of you was missing
In my heart you were complete
Without opening your eyes,
without knowing your laughter
You came to change my live

For eighteen weeks
I felt your warmth
I felt your kicks
I felt your love
I felt your death

But,now I know you are in a better place
And I know that you are complete
But, I'am here on earth missing
yourlife in my life.

For Jose Angel with Love
April 13, 2002(4:53a.m)
Written By Susana

Mothers tell their stories...

I told her how sorry I was and that I loved her and did not want her to suffer. I would rather suffer every day for the rest of my life than to allow her to suffer one moment in life.

~Mom of an Angel

Everything was going great. As already having two "normal" pregnancies under my belt, I felt confident. I knew there was always that chance of hearing bad news but I said "no, not me, not our baby."

We felt that if our daughter had been in a car accident and was on life support with the same internal injuries, we would not keep her on life support and let her suffer. This child deserved the same dignity."

~ A grieving mom

I initially thought I would "be brave" and continue my pregnancy. But I came to realize that ultimately it wasn't about how strong I could be, how deeply I wanted this baby or what important lessons he could teach me. It was about what he would experience in his short life. Given his diagnosis, he would have known only suffering. As his mother, I couldn't allow that to happen.

~ A mother at peace

It was our ignorance for believing that all pregnancies led to a healthy baby. It was my arrogance for believing that since I had the best medical care, took prenatal vitamins even before and during my pregnancy, never took drugs, never smoked cigarettes and drank about half a glass of wine a year, that our baby would be safe.

~A bereaved mother

Mothers tell their stories...

I told her how sorry I was and that I loved her and did not want her to suffer. I would rather suffer every day for the rest of my life than to allow her to suffer one moment in life.~Mom of an Angel

Everything was going great. As already having two "normal" pregnancies under my belt, I felt confident. I knew there was always that chance of hearing bad news but I said "no, not me, not our baby."

We felt that if our daughter had been in a car accident and was on life support with the same internal injuries, we would not keep her on life support and let her suffer. This child deserved the same dignity."~ A grieving mom

A mother will stop at nothing, including her own hurt, both mentally and physically, to protect her child. ~Brokenhearted Mother

I told her how sorry I was and that I loved her and did not want her to suffer. I would rather suffer every day for the rest of my life than to allow her to suffer one moment in life.

~Mom of an Angel

We felt that if our daughter had been in a car accident and was on life support with the same internal injuries, we would not keep her on life support and let her suffer. This child deserved the same dignity."

~ A grieving mom

A mother will stop at nothing, including her own hurt, both mentally and physically, to protect her child.

~Brokenhearted Mother