Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her

I have a heavy heart tonight, my friends.

It is so heavy that it seems to have plunged to my stomach and I don't know when it will be coming back to its place. I can scarcely believe what I am typing. In fact, I still do not want to believe it.

I received some tragic news this afternoon: a very dear friend of ours, a friend who we have come to think of as an extension of our family, has passed away very suddenly. She was young, only in her twenties, and she leaves behind her husband and her four day old infant son.

Even after typing that I want to jump back up and hit delete until I can erase it all.

S was Fiver's speech therapist for two years and she was the first person to begin the process of unlocking him from his mysterious inner world. It was largely through her that we discovered his other delays; she was the first to notice that something wasn't right and she got us in contact with Fiver's occupational therapist (who was S's best friend and who is deeply in grief this evening). In many ways, S uncovered Fiver's personality. She set him free.

She was a gentle, sweet person, who was beloved by her family and her patients, and, after working in pediatric rehab, she was so excited to become a mother for the first time. In our last conversation together, she said that she couldn't wait to hold her baby.

I spoke with Fiver's OT this afternoon, and she told me that S had had a wonderful, perfectly normal delivery, and her baby boy is beautiful. S went home with her little boy but came back into the hospital for some post partum complications, and she passed away this afternoon. The doctors still are not quite sure what the cause of death is, and right now her baby boy has been admitted for blood tests and a spinal tap. They are afraid that if she had an infection, he may have contracted it as well.

Please, please, I am asking you for your prayers tonight, even if you feel that you are not a praying person.

Pray for the repose of S's soul; pray for her husband, who is out of his mind with grief at the loss of his wife and the prospect of raising his son alone; pray for her little son, who may be sick and who will never get to smile up at his mother on earth; pray for her parents, who have a little grandchild but not their child; and pray for all of us who knew and loved her. Many little hearts will be broken by S's departure, and many of them may not be able to communicate the depth of their feeling.

Thank you.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
And give Your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest Your weary ones,
Bless Your dying ones,
Soothe Your suffering ones,
Pity Your afflicted ones,
Shield Your joyous ones,
And all for Your love's sake. Amen.

-St. Augustine

20 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry to hear about this loss. Sending up prayers for her, her family, and your family!

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  2. oh my goodness. That is so awful. My prayers are with her, her family and your family. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

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  3. Anonymous1:14 AM

    I will say prayers for her, her husband, and her entire family.
    May the baby be well.
    I know loss and this has touched me deeply.
    I also pray for people like you and others which she has been a positive influence in their lives. Many will suffer for this loss. Lord have mercy.
    I pray she was heaven an hour before the devil knows she is dead.
    Love,
    T's Mom

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  4. Aimee, I am in tears just reading this. Be assured of my prayers for all those you have mentioned. May God bring comfort to those who mourn S, and may she know the joy of Heaven.

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  5. Anonymous6:36 AM

    I am so terribly sorry. I know that nothing I can say will take away your pain right now, but you and her family are in my prayers.

    "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
    Romans 8:26-27

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  6. How sad. I will add all of them and you to my prayers.

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  7. Anonymous8:37 AM

    I am saying prayers for everyone. For her, her son, her family, friends, you and your family.

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  8. Anonymous10:00 AM

    So sorry to hear about this completely unfair and tagic loss. Of course, our prayers for everyone.
    Mirabella MOM

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  9. My heart just broke a little bit. I can't imagine the grief that family is experiencing. I will certainly be praying.

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  10. Anonymous11:58 AM

    Aimee- I'm so sorry. Simply unimaginable.

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  11. Oh yes, prayers to the Father right now. I'm so saddened for those left behind.

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  12. I am so sorry for this loss and grief you are experiencing. What a terrible tragedy!

    We will remember this family in our prayers.

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  13. God bless S. and her little family. How is Fiver dealing?

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  14. Anonymous9:33 PM

    S. was a lovely young woman and I only spoke with her twice...I know how your heart bleeds for her family. Such a joyous time as a birth has become one of inconsolable grief. I am still trying to reconcile the facts with my emotions...we at the hospital have all taken the loss personally...I didn't sleep last night and my heart is still heavy...The gift of life is..a gift...

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  15. That is absolutely horrible. OMG.

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  16. So heartbreaking. God's will knows no why. We just have to trust, though it's so hard. I'm just a casual, and occasional passer-by and don't know this young mother, but my heart is still broken for her family and friends, and my prayers are with her and those who loved her today.

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  17. Oh I'm so sorry!! What a terrible tragedy. My prayers are with her husband and son and her entire family. It's so hard to understand why these things happen. And it's hard for us to know that she truly is in a better place. I pray that the Lord is able to give comfort to her family. That little baby will forever have an angel to watch over him.

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  18. Oh, Aimee! We're praying for everyone involved, including you and your family. Sometimes it's hard to accept that God knows what He's doing. That poor daddy and baby.

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  19. Anonymous10:05 AM

    Absolutely heart-rending. I will be praying.

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