Today, my heart is sad. I am sad about the passing of Baby Maya and I never met her. I know her dad – barely. He was the art teacher at Rachel’s school. He was new last year, and he was always nice to me. Rachel seemed to like him. Late last year, he and his wife learned that their unborn daughter might have Trisomy 18. I know a tiny bit about Trisomy 18 as I have had a couple of friends who have lost babies born with Trisomy 18. Having a child with Down syndrome, I have learned more than I ever thought I would about genetic issues. I have also learned how blessed we are. When Rachel learned that Baby Maya was sick she wanted to pray for her and wanted her teacher to know. We told her to not tell him everyday that she was praying but that it was a good thing to pray.The diagnosis of Trisomy 18 was confirmed in Baby Maya shortly after she was born.
I never met Baby Maya but her dad wrote a blog about her almost every day of her life. I started reading it and it is so beautiful. Everyday it started with “On the number day in the life of the most beautiful girl in the history of the world the morning began peacefully.” He then chronicled her movements, smiles, those beautiful eyes, and the simple parts of life. It was so evident that Baby Maya was cherished and celebrated. What probably touched me most is that these parents knew they would not have Baby Maya for long. They didn’t know the day or the hour. They just knew they would have her for a short time. In Maya’s dad’s words, “We are blessed that we get to spend even this short time with her. She is the most beautiful thing we have ever seen. Everyday we are impressed by her strength, and amazed by her spirit.”
If every child could be so blessed by that kind of love. If every person could be blessed by that kind of attitude, what a wonderful world this would be. Today, I want to slow down a bit and celebrate life and the simple things God has given me the opportunity to enjoy. I hope you will do the same. Yesterday heaven gained an angel. Forever, we can all take lessons from Baby Maya and her family.
NOTE: Please take time to go to the Trisomy18 Foundation link to learn more. Trisomy 18 is a terminal genetic disorder.
