Bailey and her Family

I am going to figure out how to do a slideshow so that I can include more pictures without just adding them all separately but, for now, this is the best I can do.

These are some of the pictures that were taken by NILMDTS (photographer: Ted York) on October 4th, 2008. We had removed Bailey's tubes but she had not yet passed away so we were able to get some family pictures while she was still alive.

Caleb was a normal 2 year old and it was LATE so he wouldn't sit still very well so we got only a couple with him but there are some great shots of Parker and Bailey - the sister he loved so much!

As I mentioned above, I will put just a few on this post but then I will figure out how to do a slideshow and add some others later.

Poem

This is a poem that was given to us by some friends at Bailey's funeral.
It makes me cry everytime I read it but it is so comforting and so true in our situation.
I love it!

A sweet little child
at a party one day,
when toys were being given away,
discovered a broken one,
and with a smile, said:
"I'll take it.
You see, I know my Daddy
can fix anything,
and soon it will be
good as new."

And once, perhaps, in heaven one day
when bodies were being given away,
a sweet little child
discovered a broken one,
and with a smile, said"
"I'll take it.
You see, I know my Father
can fix anything,
and someday it will be
good as new."

Now we, in all our deepest grief -
in searching for that sweet relief -
are clinging to that hopeful knowledge, too.
(by: Serena DeGiulio)

This is what our sweet Bailey did. She may have come to Earth with a broken little body but her Spirit was strong and now she is with her Heavenly Father, who has fixed her broken body for her, and will be waiting for us to join them one day. She is perfect!

"Her Journey's Just Begun"

This was a poem that was on a card that our sweet neighbors gave us after Bailey's death. I thought it was perfect and wanted to share it.

HER JOURNEY'S JUST BEGUN
by E. Brenneman

Don't think of her as gone away -
her journey's just begun,
life holds so many facets -
this earth is only one.

Just think of her as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years.

Think how she must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.

And think of her as living
in the hearts of those she touched ...
for nothing loved is ever lost -
and she was loved so much.

Viewing pictures

Bailey looked beautiful at her viewing.

She was such a perfect little angel. I guess that is why she is back in Heaven now - she was so perfect she didn't need to stay here any longer.

I love you my sweet baby daughter.

"Bailey's Friends" fund

We promised that we would post more information regarding the fund that we have set up in Bailey's name. We will initially be using some of the money for our own medical and funeral expenses incurred during Bailey's birth and death. However, we are then going to continue the fund in Bailey's name and will be working to convert it to a 503(c) fund called "Baileys Friends" to help assist other Parents who experience the loss of a newborn. Our initial plan was to donate the funds to research for Thanatophoric Dysplasia. However, because this is a disease that really has no cure and can not be survived, we have decided, instead, to set the fund up to assist with medical/funeral expenses for Parents suffering the loss of their newborns instead. As we have gone through this experience we have realized what a burden the expenses can be when you are already suffering the extreme sadness of losing your Child. It is another stress that Parents shouldn't have to endure. However, it is real. Because of this, we want to help. We will provide more information as we develop our documentation for applying for assistance, etc. However, we wanted to let everyone know what we would be using this fund in our sweet Bailey's honor for.

Donations can be made at any Mountain America Credit Union to the account in Bailey Grace Blake's name. If you are out of State, you can go to your local Credit Union and give them Mountain America's information and they can take the donation there for you.
We appreciate your help during this trying time in our life and hope that we can continue to help others as we have received so much help. We honestly believe in "paying it forward".

Obituary

Below is the link to Bailey's obituary in the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News.

http://www.legacy.com/DeseretNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=118516386

UPDATED: The link above expired. Here is a new one to the same obituary but through the Funeral Home.

http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=274831&fh_id=10376&s_id=C3D160A7DBC926092DC7883D49B0598C

Pictures of Bailey

We will, of course, be updating with all of the most recent details of Bailey's journey as soon as I have a couple of minutes to sit down but wanted to at least post some of our pictures of her as soon as possible as many of you have been asking for them.
As an FYI - the diagnosis that had been made for Bailey in utero ended up being incorrect.
Bailey did not end up passing away due to her complications from Osteogenesis Imperfecta but, instead, from a disease that has even a lower survival rate - a disease called Thanatophoric Displaysia. We will be providing information regarding this horrible disease that took our sweet baby's life in a later post.
Meanwhile, please enjoy some pictures of our darling angel, Bailey.

Proud big Brother - the day after birth.

Daddy and Bailey right after finding out her new diagnosis and fatal prognosis.

Mommy and Bailey the day after birth.

Bailey and both of her brothers right before telling the boys of her fatal prognosis and removing her tubes.

Mommy and Daddy holding Bailey.

The Blake Family. (Shortly after removing Bailey's tubes.)

The ring and bracelet that the NICU unit gave us for Bailey. Her nurse put them on her and took this picture shortly after her death.

We love you, Bailey! Sleep well our little Angel.