Update on Stillbirth

10:40 PM - Mar. 14, 2006 - Add to the Wildness

Rikki viewed her little boy's body one last time today before being sent home from the hospital. She's now trying to get funeral arrangements together. I hope to be able to go in and see her tomorrow or the next day.

The full story is thus and so:

She woke up yesterday morning with labour pains, thinking she was finally going to be having her baby. She had a Dr. appointment that morning, but they couldn't find a heartbeat. They spent several hours checking and re-checking. Then they pronounced the baby dead and told her to go home for awhile. She was to go back in for an induced labour when she was ready, later on that evening.

Instead, she went into natural labour and had a simple birth. She and her 3-year-old son held the baby and said goodbye. When I talked to little Raven on the phone, he asked, "Where's my brother?" then, "Where's my mama?" Due to the difficulty of Rikki's pregnancy, Raven's been asking "Where's my mama?" a lot these last several months. She really fought for this baby's life. And he was born perfect. I suppose that's how all children in heaven look.

Because Rikki is starting her life over completely alone right now, and because she's had to deal with the stigma of "church" reactions to the obvious evidence of her past (aka that sweet, beautiful child Raven), I'm collecting emails and well-wishes to send on to her.

Those of you who come upon this post and pray, please also ask God to keep Rikki safe as she tries to get disentangled from her former life and the literally monstrous people in it. She has shown great courage to follow God and carry this baby to term with the ties he would have created to that family.

Thank you for your prayers.

Prayers and sympathies.

Please extend our feelings of sadness for your friend. May God continue to bless your friendship with her and to help her son to understand what has happened.

I have a 3 yo son and I can't imagine how hard it would be for him to understand a pregnancy that didn't end with a baby.
Praying.... Terrill

Edited by tbrowne on Mar. 15, 2006 at 8:57 PM

- 10:56 PM - Mar. 15, 2006

---

How heartwrenching

Please let her know my prayers and love are extended to her and Raven. May God bring her peace and comfort through this time of loss.
Melanie in LA

Mileshouse - 11:34 AM - Mar. 16, 2006

---

Untitled Comment

I'd like to email your friend, but I think I'll have dd draw a pic first. I'll do my best to get back to you soon.

You mention gospel bluegrass in an earlier post. One of our favs is Frank Peretti's group, but I can't seem to remember their name right now (I'm really tired, but can't seem to log off). Oh, wait -- it's Northern Cross. They're out of Post Falls, Idaho (or at least that area), and tend to travel with him on his speaking tours. Excellent group, and some of the most gracious people I've ever met.

Speaking of Peretti, he wrote a book ages ago called Tilly. It deals with an abortion, but may encourage your friend. It's about a dream a woman had of her aborted daughter; she was allowed to speak to her in heaven. Quite the tear-jerker, but may give your friend that mental picture that her child is in God's arms.

Your friend is in our prayers.

danib - 1:33 AM - Mar. 19, 2006

---

in prayer

Hi. My name is Corinna Silvers and I am new to blogging. I will keep her in my prayers. These are the ones I wonder why. God knows things we don't have to know.

corinnas - 7:18 PM - Mar. 21, 2006

---

Praying for your friend

You are doing a great job looking after single mothers. Please know I am praying for your friend whose son was stillborn. I also had a stillborn son, who had died at 17 weeks gestation. What a painful time for her, especially if the church is not supportive of her.

Pickle - 9:17 PM - Apr. 5, 2006

---