Baby Jake
Frog tales…precious baby Jake
I woke up this morning with a heavy heart. I was not looking forward to the business of the day. It was the day that I would be picking out a memorial stone for Lauren’s grotto. Although there had been much discussion and planning for the stone, it was still the business of choosing a stone for Lauren’s place. As I was getting myself dressed, I received a special gift. My phone beeped with a message from Debbie, a very close cousin and friend.
Debbie’s grandson Jake had been born to her son Sam and her daughter in law Leslie, several weeks early. He was a perfect little boy with a head of fuzzy hair and a fighting spirit. He weighed less than 5 lbs and was having trouble learning to eat. Sam and Leslie faced this with courage and love and faith. They were taking it day by day, and learning to accept the fact that there are things in life beyond our control. I knew in my heart that Lauren would be with them and their precious baby boy during this first challenge of parenthood.
Lauren was very close friends and cousins with Sam and Leslie before she died. The three of them shared a special bond and a cherished friendship. Terry and I felt very honored when Sam and Leslie memorialized Lauren during their wedding ceremony. They have remained true friends to her and Terry and me even beyond her death. I have decided to include an excerpt of our messages at this point, because I think that they truly tell the story and convey the emotion better than I can.
From Debbie to Tara:
“Hey Honey, I have a story I want to share with you. Jake has been having trouble with the sucking and swallowing at his feedings. Leslie and I went to see Jake on Monday morning and they had put a little tube in his nose to finish his feedings if he wasn’t able to finish his bottle on his own. Naturally that was hard to see, but we both knew that it had to be done. Anyway, that night, Leslie and I both had dreams. I dreamed that we needed a bottle of holy water to bless him with, and a premature baby prayer to pray with him. Leslie dreamed he needed to wear an outfit with a frog on it. So needless to say we headed back Tuesday morning with holy water, the prayer card, and 8 frog onesies. We dressed him in a frog oneie, made crosses on his forehead with holy water, and prayed the prayer with him. Since then, he has been sucking his whole ounce and a half and is being more aggressive with his feedings. Leslie got so emotional when things turned for the better with his eating, she said, “Ms. Debbie, I know Lauren put her hand on Jake!” and I said, “I know she did too, Leslie.” We brought a stuffed frog last night and put it in his bed with him. I will take a picture for you to see. Love you so much. Just wanted to share how your baby girl helped us through a rough time. :))))”
From Tara to Debbie:
“Wow! Thank you so much for that! I am so overwhelmed and touched. I knew Lauren would be there with ya’ll. She wanted to be a pediatric nurse and I guess now she is! I am so happy that you shared it with me. I am crying tears of joy this morning! I can’t tell you how much it means to hear this. I have an extra holy blanket from the Healing Mass in Washington and I would love to give it to Jake if he doesn’t already have one. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again for sharing this story. I truly needed it. Love you so much!”
From Debbie to Tara:
“My tears are joyful tears too. It was just so obvious the way it happened. Lauren is with Jake. I feel it every time I am there. We would love love the blanket. Thanks so much. Love you bunches.”
From Tara to Debbie:
.........P.S. I am going to pick out a memorial stone for Lauren today to put at the grotto we made in her honor at my Mom and Dad’s house. I was feeling very sad and sorry for myself. But your message made me remember where she is and what she is doing, and that she is not forgotten, and most importantly, that she is still with all of us in a very real way.”
From Debbie to Tara:
“I am so glad that you are doing that for Lauren. I’m sorry that it is so hard for you. I just woke up this morning with ya’ll so heavy on my mind and we both just knew that the holy water and frog outfits made the difference for our precious Jake, and we have our angel Lauren to thank for that . She is working hard for us from Heaven. I want to explain to Jake one day when he is old enough to understand what a difference she made in his first days on Earth.”
From Tara to Debbie:
“Picked out the stone. Was harder than I expected, but I am so glad to have it done. It will be set in place at the grotto in time for Lauren’s birthday. It is a beautiful piece of granite with her name and dates, her picture, a simple cross, and the words Beloved Daughter. I feel so good about having a special place to remember her. Thank you again for the story it touched me so much, and I needed that today. I wanted to ask your permission and Leslie’s to write about it on the blog. I think it is touching and inspiring, and that it needs to be shared.”
From Leslie to Tara:
“I’m so glad our story made your day better. I would love for you to write about it because I agree, it needs to be shared. I know Lauren is with baby Jake holding him close in her arms.”
So I end this day bruised yet unbroken. The pain of choosing a memorial for my child was tempered with the joy I felt for precious Jake and his connection to Lauren. I am as proud as any mother could possibly be of this angel child who still touches lives, both old and new, with her lovingly beautiful spirit. Today was proof that Lauren is still with us, and the memorial stone that was chosen does not mark her death, but it proclaims her beautiful earthly existence.
Tara Rodney
6/30/11
