There are times when inductions are truly the best thing that could happen. That a medical procedure to bring on contractions to have a baby early is a blessing. This is one of those times. Diane Aulger of The Colony, Texas, gave her dying husband one of the best last gifts anyone could every give -- the gift of life ... in the form of their newborn baby girl.
Mark Aulger, Diane's husband was only 52 years young. He had just gone through 8 months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. It was believed that he was cancer-free. The Aulgers were happy. They celebrated Christmas with their four children -- five if you count the baby still growing in Diane's belly. But after the holidays on January 3rd, Mark had to be rushed to the hospital because he couldn't breathe.
He was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis as a result of the chemo and given one week to live. Thirty-one-year-old Diane decided to induce labor so her dying husband could meet his child. And two days later, on January 18th, a special delivery room was created so Mark could rest comfortably in his own bed next to Diane who would bring their fifth child into this world. It sounds like they were in a wonderful hospital with very supportive doctors and nurses. The baby was just two weeks early, so the complications were minimal, and I believe many would do the same thing. The baby girl, who they name Savannah, was born early just so she could meet her dad and her dad could hold her at least once. Diane gushed how Mark was so excited for this baby. It must have been such a beacon of hope after his cancer diagnosis.
"The day she was born his oxygen levels were really high," Diane said. "He held her for 45 minutes. Him and I just cried that whole time."
Forty-five minutes. Savannah will come to cherish those 45 minutes.
The next day, Mark slipped into a coma. Diane said that if Savannah cried, Mark, even though comatose, would shake his head and moan. She also noticed that when she put the baby on his chest, his hand would move toward her. Mark passed away on January 23 with his whole family by his side.
It's hard to imagine this kind of pain. Of course we say how this isn't fair, how Savannah deserves more than 45 minutes with a father she will only truly know through the stories and photos from her mother and siblings. And she does. That's exactly why we have family. We have family for support. We have family to get us through the tough times because they are supposed to be the people who understand us the most. They are our support systems like the sisters who are surrogates for their other sister. Support systems like the Aulgers who were there through life and death. I'm going to hug my family extra tight today.
I wish the Aulgers much strength and love during this time. I have a feeling baby Savannah is one remarkable little girl.
Have you had to cope with loss around the same time as a happy moment as birth? Would you have induced early in a situation like this?
Image via makuneros/Flickr
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Comments 103
I absolutely would have induced. It's good that he got to meet his newest daughter before he died, and I'm happy that the hospital and docs were supportive of this.
I wouldn't have given a second thought if it meant my husband got to hold his daughter before he died.
tyrelsmom - why are you against induction? I'm just curious about specific reasons. You might be thinking about moms who want to induce to keep a schedule. However, some people have to induce and I'm curious, what do you believe to be the "high risk of complications"?
I induced my daughter at 42 weeks because she was getting too big and my blood pressure was sky rocketing. I induced my son at 38 weeks because I had gestational diabetes and he was growing way too fast despite the insulin and low carbing. If they didn't induce they would have had to break his collar bone to get him out (without time for pain medicine for him). They are completely healthy and have no health issues whatsoever.
I totally understand this story as it somewhat echoes me and my firt daughters birth.
My father had a huge stroke when I was 38 weeks pregnant with my daughter, now 4, and my midwife dicussed inductiion and I jumped at the chance, I was taken into hospital and went through 17 hours of induction that failed to progress so I ended up having a section. I talked to my father on the telephone from our seperate hospital beds (in different hospitals sadly), he couldn't talk but could hear me (my mother was by his side) and I told him all about his granddaughter and how much she looked like me. We sent images to him throughout the next few weeks as I wasn't allowed to take my daughter to his ward incase of infection, he fought hard to live but sadly my best friend of a father died two weeks after his stroke... I had to take my month old daughter to his funeral and she slept throughout that and the following wake, she didn't feed the whole time, she slept in my arms...
I miss my father terribly but I would make the same choice everytime. I have since given birth to another daughter (5 months now) and I know he is here visiting.
I cannot imagine fully how it must feel to have gone through that with my husband instead of my father but we do what we must, I send huge hugs to Diane and her family. xxx
This lady is 31. Her hubby is 52. Their oldest is 15. Anyone else disturbed this couple had their first child when she was 16 and he was 37?
That being said, its very sad this family lost their dad/husband. I am glad mom and baby are ok and dad got to meet her. This baby will treasure those photos forever.