Aven's Story
We found out we were expecting Aven on April 23, 2014; her big sister Lynnea’s fifth birthday. It was a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one as we anxiously anticipated the arrival of our fourth child. Everything went fine with the pregnancy until a phone call from our doctor on July 9th at 15 weeks informing us that a blood test Melanie had taken came back with results showing a high risk for trisomy 13. Trisomy is a chromosomal condition associated with severe intellectual disability and physical abnormalities in many parts of the body. Most infants don’t survive.
It was heart-breaking learning this news. We were hopeful for a miracle. We didn’t want to lose our little baby. We went to see a specialist on July 24th. We had an ultrasound where we found out that our little girl had many anomalies. The specialist said that the baby might miscarry, be stillborn, and if the baby was born would maybe survive hours at most. We made the choice then that we would carry Aven for as long as God would allow. We loved her.
The months and weeks that passed, since the end July when we found out for sure about Aven's diagnosis, have been filled with good days and bad. Some days we wouldn't even cry and then other days that was all we could do. Melanie would place both hands around her belly and try to hug Aven and will her to stay and not to leave yet. The doctor’s comments and stories we would read about other babies with Trisomy 13 made us think that she might be born early or that her heart could stop at any time. Some days were very difficult as we were always wondering if today would be the day she would come or we wouldn't feel her anymore. But she was our strong little girl, our Fighter, and she made it to thirty-six weeks.
On December 1st, at 7:30 in the evening, Melanie’s water broke and we headed to the hospital. At 2:48 AM on Dec. 2nd, Aven Hope Bjarnson was born into this world. We had almost two hours with her until her heart beat, and our daughter faded away. During this time, she was able to meet her brothers and her sister. They held her, and gave her hugs. We held and loved our little Aven until God took her back to His arms. Aven passed away at 4:35 AM. We were able to spend a couple short hours with her. But those hours were some of the most precious in our lives.
We love our little girl, we will miss her, but we know that we will see her again. A scripture that has comforted us during this experience is from John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Even though it was so hard to let Aven go, we know that she is with her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This gives us comfort. This gives us peace.
It was heart-breaking learning this news. We were hopeful for a miracle. We didn’t want to lose our little baby. We went to see a specialist on July 24th. We had an ultrasound where we found out that our little girl had many anomalies. The specialist said that the baby might miscarry, be stillborn, and if the baby was born would maybe survive hours at most. We made the choice then that we would carry Aven for as long as God would allow. We loved her.
The months and weeks that passed, since the end July when we found out for sure about Aven's diagnosis, have been filled with good days and bad. Some days we wouldn't even cry and then other days that was all we could do. Melanie would place both hands around her belly and try to hug Aven and will her to stay and not to leave yet. The doctor’s comments and stories we would read about other babies with Trisomy 13 made us think that she might be born early or that her heart could stop at any time. Some days were very difficult as we were always wondering if today would be the day she would come or we wouldn't feel her anymore. But she was our strong little girl, our Fighter, and she made it to thirty-six weeks.
On December 1st, at 7:30 in the evening, Melanie’s water broke and we headed to the hospital. At 2:48 AM on Dec. 2nd, Aven Hope Bjarnson was born into this world. We had almost two hours with her until her heart beat, and our daughter faded away. During this time, she was able to meet her brothers and her sister. They held her, and gave her hugs. We held and loved our little Aven until God took her back to His arms. Aven passed away at 4:35 AM. We were able to spend a couple short hours with her. But those hours were some of the most precious in our lives.
We love our little girl, we will miss her, but we know that we will see her again. A scripture that has comforted us during this experience is from John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Even though it was so hard to let Aven go, we know that she is with her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This gives us comfort. This gives us peace.
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