Text Box: Text Box: Text Box: LinksText Box: Text Box: . Text Box: Home Text Box: Caileigh’s story Text Box: Photos Text Box: Grief Text Box: Links In Loving Memory of Caleigh Lynn Dewitt3/2/06Some people dream of angels. I got to hold mine.Text Box: Gemma’s Bears provides a small gift of love for newly diagnosed Trisomy 13 and 18 babies and their families. Heartprints Photo Retouching Heartprints is a digital photo retouching service for families who have lost a baby through stillbirth or prematurity. Many parents are anxious to see the photos of their stillborn babies, only to have that anticipation turn to dismay when the photos simply do not depict the child they remember. Other parents find it difficult to share their pictures with friends and family, afraid of the reaction they may get. I can correct many esthetic issues that take away from the natural beauty of your child. Living with Trisomy 13 This site focuses on bringing the families of beautiful Trisomy 13 children together. Sharing their stories of living and growing in love in the challenges of raising a Trisomy 13 child. Noah’s Never Ending Rainbow The mission of Noah’s Never Ending Rainbow, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, is to educate, advocate, raise public awareness, promote strategic alliances and assist families who have children with Trisomy and related chromosome disorders. Trisomy Family Albums In November 1997 a group of people interested in Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 and other related chromosomal disorders got together and started an e-mail based support group. Together they share their love, hopes, fears, grief and the day to day caring for a child affected by a rare chromosomal disorder. Be Not Afraid Benotafraid.net is an online outreach to parents who have received a poor or difficult prenatal diagnosis. The family stories, articles, and links within this site are presented as a resource for those who may have been asked to choose between terminating a pregnancy or continuing on despite the diagnosis. Carrying to Term with a Negative Prenatal Diagnosis Carrying To Term with A Negative Prenatal Diagnosis. This site is written by a mom who carried her baby to term with thanatophoric dysplasia type 1 (a fatal form of dwarfism). Resources, support and personal stories. Waiting with Love Waiting with Love… For parents who choose to continue a pregnancy knowing their unborn baby will die before or shortly after birth and for families who learn their newborn will die. A Place to Remember Uplifting support materials and resources for those who have been touched by a crisis in pregnancy or the death of a baby. The Healing Power of Prayer Thehealingpowerofprayer.com is a place for those of all faiths to share prayer requests, a place of inspirational faith-building stories and links, and pictures and updates of Natalia, a miracle child who was born in Aug of 2005 with Full Trisomy 13. A Trisomy 18 Journal Written by her mom who carried her daughter to term with trisomy 18. This site is an extensive "how to" on t-18 (and related disorders) and carrying to term. It also has a fantastic grief journal which is comforting and reassuring when if you are going through a similar loss. The Story of Grace Ann Nugent The inspirational story of Grace Anne Nugent who was diagnosed in utero with Full Trisomy 18. This site is full of many resources for carrying to term along a copy of a birth plan. Tips for Carrying to Term After a devastating prenatal diagnosis, it's too often assumed that a mother will automatically terminate. If you ahve determined to carry your unborn baby to term despite his or her fatal condition, this website was designed for you. It is full of many great tips for carrying to term. Midwifehelp@aol.com E-Mail Support: A friend of mine, Bess Raulerson, a Nurse Midwife is very knowledgeable with both Trisomy 13 and 18, has generously offered to answer questions or help in anyway she can to those faced with these and similar diagnoses. Her daughter Emma Grace’s story is below. Emma Grace’s Web-site Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death M.E.N.D. (Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death) is a Christian, non-profit organization that reaches out to families who have suffered the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death. They publish free bi-monthly newsletters, hold two commemorative ceremonies each year, and host a variety of support groups in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. The American Child Charity Photographers Guild A non-profit, volunteer based organization of child photographers from all over the country  who have come together to form a guild dedicated to children in need and their families. They include nearly 300 photographers and collectively provide families in need with thousands of fine art portraits, capturing and preserving tender moments of their young lives. Footprints Photography Provides desperately ill infants and children in their areas with terminal illnesses with complimentary portrait sessions.  Now I Lay me Down to Sleep A nationwide 501 (c)(3) non profit organization.  No fees for the Photography services. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives. American Association of pro-live OBGYN’s A group of 2,500 members and associates, that are recognized by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as a special interest group within the College. Their purpose is to reaffirm the unique value and dignity of individual human life in all stages of growth and development from conception onward. Adoption Agency for Special Needs Children An adoption agency which encourages families with special needs children, in ways that glorify Christ and finds Christian homes for children with special needs. Prenatal Partners for Life Prenatal Partners for Life is a group of concerned parents (most of whom have or had a special needs child), medical professionals, legal professionals and clergy whose aim is to support, inform and encourage expectant or new parents. They offer support by connecting parents facing an adverse diagnosis with other parents who have had the same diagnosis. They have many resources such as adoption agencies with clients waiting to adopt and love a special needs child should a parent feel they could not care for them. Tepeyac Family Center Free pro-life health care provided by pro-life doctors and nurses in Silver Springs, MD and Farfax, VA. Alexandra’s House Alexandra's House is a charitable perinatal-infant hospice house and refuge for abandoned or neglected babies. Their first focus is to provide spiritual, grief and practical support to families pregnant with terminally ill babies and for families whose babies are diagnosed later with a terminal illness. They attend medical visits, develop compassionate and comprehensive birth plans, go to labor and delivery, maintain vigils through the babies' death, bathe and dress the babies, and participate in funerals and in long-term bereavement care. While “invisible” support could be done by a multidisciplinary team alone, our calling includes a home in which to house live-in staff, who choose a life of poverty so funds go towards the needs of the families, and our ministerial activities. Women’s Choice Center Among other services, they have a perinatal hospice program here in the Quad Cities. Perinatal Hospice is comprehensive care for the family of a pre-born with a terminal condition. This extends the concept of hospice to include support from the time of diagnosis through birth and loss of the infant. This is a beautiful alternative for those families for whom elective pregnancy termination is not a desirable option. Text Box: Gemma’s Bears

LETTER FROM HEAVEN

To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say.

But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay. I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.

Here, there's no more tears of sadness; Here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight. Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.

That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through. God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you.

It's good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone. As for your dearest family, They'll be here later on.


I need you here badly, you're part of my plan. There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do. And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you. And when you lie in bed at night the day's chores put to flight. God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.


But do not be afraid to cry: it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
If I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain;
Then you can say to God at night… My day was not in vain." And now I am contented....that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low;
Just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street and you've got me on your mind; I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go....from that body to be free. Remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.

Ruth Ann Mahaffey
Author of "Letter From Heaven"
©copyright 1998