The 3rd is for Elliott

Many silent heros helped us bring Elliott into the world
and supported us during the pregnancy. 

Dr. F. was the specialist who worked with us from the very beginning. She performed the ultrasound that showed all of Elliott's complications and had to tell us all of them, one by one as we cried in the room. She told us how sorry she was for us, she sat with us as we cried, she hugged us, she supported us, she allowed and encouraged us to come in for monthly ultrasound, many of them just to see Elliott move around knowing it would be the only time we'd get to see her do this, she patiently and professionally answered many questions we asked her, many of them over and over as we tried to accept things and she told us she thought of us as family. The day I begged her for an amnio-reduction to buy more time with Elliott, she told me how much she admired Joe and I. And the day we went into labor unexpectedly she asked if she could be in the operating room to meet Elliott. And she called a week after we left the hospital to see how we were doing. We are so thankful to her. 

This is Janet with Perinatal Hospice. She was introduced to us by my friend Lynn who is another silent hero who mentored me and supported me during the entire pregnancy. Janet volunteers her time to work with families who have received a terminal prognosis during their pregnancy. After months and months of hearing from doctors that there was nothing they can do for Elliott, Janet came into our lives and said, yes, there is something you can do. She showed us how to plan and prepare as best we could to say goodbye to Elliott. And when that's all that you can do it means so much to you. She provides many services for families and allows you to choose those which you are comfortable with. She is truly an angel.

We had originally planned to deliver Elliott at Providence Park Hospital in Novi with the doctors and nurses we had worked with. However, we had drove to Southfield, MI for Dr. F. to perform the amnio-reduction and it actually caused me to go into labor. I was offered the option of being transferred to Novi, but with such intense labor pains and getting sick because of them, we all agreed it would be best just to stay in Southfield. And in comes Nurse R. She introduced herself to us and we gave her our birthplan and told her we were as prepared as could be for this day. She sat down on my bed and explained to Joe and I that she was part of a group of nurses who works with many families like ours and had several things for us. Joe and I couldn't believe it, this was truly a blessing from God and we felt so supported and in good hands. She presented us with a dress and hat for Elliott and we were so touched. I had made Elliott's blanket for her, but now we had a precious dress for her as well. Nurse R. was incredibly supportive and loving to Elliott and supported our birth plan and everything we asked for the day we had her. Joe and I knew that only God could have brought her into our lives at such an important time.



These are only a few people who supported us and Elliott and we are so thankful and grateful to them. So many other people helped along the way as well and without you all I really don't think we could have gotten through it. And your love and support is all we can ask for now as the days, weeks and months pass. It's still so very hard to believe what we've been through and continue to go through but you all in big and small ways help us to know we are loved, thought about, prayed for and that Elliott will always be remembered by our family and friends. Thank you.