In May of 2003 we found out that we were pregnant with our second child. We were filled with joy and excitement. I had an ultrasound done at 7 weeks into our pregnancy . . . a couple of questions were asked but nothing that we thought to worry us. A second ultrasound was done September 11th of 2003 because I was just at the beginning of my first trimester with the first, so one our doctors ordered another one.

During the exam the young lady doing the exam said I have to get the doctor. I had a feeling something was wrong at that time because of the look on her face. I begged her to tell me. I said, “Am I okay?” She said, “You? Yes.” I said, “Well, the baby...”? She said, “No, the baby has no brain.” I just froze until that sank in and I lost it. Unlike the first ultrasound, my husband John stayed home with our son and did not come with me. We did not want to know the baby's sex so we thought it was no big deal. As the technician called John at our house and then called my mother, I just cried and said, "I don’t understand". It was then that I found out the very day before my doctors got some blood work back positive, but they did not worry because this will come up positive if pregnant with twins.

My doctor then came into the room looked at the screen then told me to get dressed and come into his office. I waited my mother and until John showed up and that is when our doctor gave us the news. All I could do was cry and not understand . . . why me? Why a person who does not smoke, does not do drugs, does not drink and takes prenatals . . . why me? We talked to the doctor for some hours and then went home to rest.

At first I was just scared and did not know if I could deal with this. The following Monday I went in at only 20 weeks to be induced. I was scared and did not know what to do. I had John, my mother, and my father-in-law by my side for 3 days and waited for the pitocin to induce my labor. My body at that point was getting immune to the medications I was on and the baby was just not ready . . . something was stopping this from happening. I decided to go home and wait. As I did, I then knew this was not what I wanted - - I wanted to wait full term and this is what God had planned for. So, I waited to deliver full term.

The holidays came and went and nothing was the same. I was pregnant with a baby moving, kicking, and who was very motivated. I could see the baby against my skin through my shirt just moving all over the place This was the hardest of all times but the most worthwhile. I knew this was the time I had to bond not knowing if the baby would live long enough to hold him or her.

On January 7th I went into the hospital for a c-section. I decided I wanted to stay awake just praying there would be a miracle and that all of my wonderful doctors would be wrong. After about a half hour operation I was told the baby was born. My first question was, “Does he or she still have anencephaly?” With our pediatrician on one side and John on the other side I heard, “Yes . . . and it’s a girl”. At that moment all I could do was cry as John hugged me I asked if she was still breathing and they told me yes. I had not heard her. As they rushed her away and I went to recovery all I did was cry and want to be with her. It was only an hour later in my room when they brought this beautiful baby girl to me and put her in my arms. She was the most amazing little person I could ever put my eyes on. I kissed her and cried I told her I was sorry for all that she is going through, but most of all I just loved her and held her.

As I would slip in and out of a sleep or a nurse would have to come take her for a minute, every time she wasn’t in my arms all I could ask was, “Is she still breathing?”, and I was always told “Yes!”. She was a fighter and she was hanging on. It was a Wednesday that she was born and on Friday, John decided to go pick up our 3 year old son so he could see her. He got to see her and hold her for 2 hours. She passed away 3 hours later . . . and it was then that we knew why she was hanging on and fighting!

It was late in the evening and I still just wanted to hold her and be with her we then knew it was just time to let her go. As I left the hospital, I felt like I was leaving her there alone. I wanted so badly to take her with me. We returned home surrounded by our loved ones, but there was an emptiness in my heart that I knew could never be filled. It was a few days later when I realized our doctors were our true support throughout my pregnancy. No one told me what decisions to make, or not to make, but they all stood by us with all they had. We could never thank them enough for all of their love and support.

We have Amanda’s ashes in our home and we have pictures all over our house. We try to stay strong and smile, but the loss of her will never be forgotten. Amanda is now a beautiful baby in heaven who I know is my angel for ever. I am so thankful I waited to the end of my full-term pregnancy, because I could not now imagine life without knowing her, without seeing her beautiful face, and with out holding her for 3 days. I truly believe that my labor was not meant to be at 20 weeks. I just knew in my heart and I am so thankful that I went full-term. I had the 3 greatest days of my life with this little girl and I could not imagine life with out knowing her.