The Griffith Family Blog: New Beginnings and Hard Goodbyes

Ellasen and I went home last weekend to be a part of my brother's wedding. I was a bridesmaid and she was a flower girl. We were very excited to go and celebrate my brother and his fiance, Valerie, who have a wonderful relationship. They are very much in love and we were so happy to be a part of their beautiful wedding. My brother and his fiance were also expecting their first child in May. A few days before the wedding Valerie went into labor. The doctors were not able to stop it, and she delivered a very tiny, but very beautiful baby girl. They named her Isabella. She weighed 1 lb 1 oz. She was obviously taken immediately to the NICU where she was cared for by a team of wonderful doctors and nurses. Jason and Valerie decided to go ahead with their wedding ceremony accompanied by all of their friends and family. They had a beautiful wedding and then headed back to the hospital to visit Isabella. We were all very happy for Jason and Valerie's marriage, but very worried about their tiny daughter. We all prayed constantly that God would work through the doctors' hands and help this tiny baby grow strong. Isabella fought very hard for 8 days, but in the end Jesus called her home to be with him. The doctors let Jason and Valerie hold her when it was time, and she passed away peacefully in her mother's arms. My brother and sister-in-law were crushed, and so were the rest of us. We know all the sayings "She is in a better place." She would have led a very hard life." "She isn't in pain any more." "God doesn't make mistakes." and we repeat them to ourselves over and over, but the loss of a child is always tragic and heartbreaking. I know that Jason and Valerie will grow stronger in each other and in God through this tragedy, but I am just so heartbroken that they have to go through this. I know the plans they had to raise and love that little girl. My brother was so excited to be a dad, and when they found out they were having a girl he was ecstatic. In the week that we were home we would go to the hospital to visit Jason, Valerie and Isabella. Jason, despite his sadness and worry, would run and play with Ellasen, make her laugh and give her hugs. He is such a good uncle, and he was an amazing dad. Sometimes when he would hug Ellasen he would tear up because I think he knew he might never get to hug Isabella that way. That, plain and simple, breaks my heart. We will pray for strength, healing and peace. Please pray with us.

Here are some photos from our trip. There will be a few of Isabella at the end.