Danielle and I want to pass on the news that our baby girl, Caroline Grace Malone, tried her best today, but did not survive. As Justin had reported earlier, Danielle's labor picked back up with intent this morning and we were quite sure that today was the day. We felt good about our chances to have a healthy baby, but it was not to be. Danielle's labor was short and she gave birth shortly after 2 pm. The doctors never were able to get Caroline's little heart pumping despite best efforts.
Regretfully, during our loss of Finley in April 07, we did not spend a lot of time with her. I think we were scared, shocked, and altogether confused, but we learned from that experience. Today, we were so blessed to spend nearly 4 hours with Caroline. Family members were able to share in some of our time with her. I now better understand the concept of instantly falling in love with your own child, and I even feel this experience has reconciled some of the guilt we felt from not spending much time with Finley.
Please know that we so greatly appreciate all the prayers, phone calls, texts, visits, etc. Danielle and I have already spoken of how amazing our family and friends are. Eventually, we will be able to talk to many of you to better explain our thoughts and express our appreciation. For now, we request continued prayers as we know the road ahead is very difficult.
Finally, we want to say that we take comfort in knowing that we serve a sovereign God. This is hard to say and even harder to understand on a day like today, but it's true. We cannot understand why these things happen and I never plan on understanding during my time here. It is a peaceful thought, however, to see both of our baby girls sitting in God's lap, feeling none of the pain and sorrow that are so much a part of this world.
Blake and Danielle
Indy Homecoming 2016
8 years ago
16 comments:
I found you through Moriah's blog. I've never met you, but I am definitely praying for you during this time.
From the moment of Finley and Caroline's conception, you have loved and taken such wonderful care of them both! I acknowledge and celebrate Caroline's life. Please know that there are no words to express my grief, but I do mourn with you.
Lamentations 3:19-23
"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I remember them well and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Clinging to hope,
Lisa (Lesley's sister)
Blake and Danielle:
Tammie and I are in mourning with you in your loss. We are so sorry this is happening. I find words fall woefully short in times like this, except to say we love you both and hurt with you and for you. I wish we were there to hug you. Adrian & Tammie
Danielle and Blake -
Scott and I are keeping you and your families in our prayers. I am so sorry of what you both are going through. I find it difficult to know what to say in a time like this. Please know that I love you both and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers over the coming days, weeks and months.
Love,
Katherine
hope you feel the love and prayers of everyone around you. we are so sorry and mourn the loss of caroline. we love you both.
adam and jaclyn
All we can say is that we are praying. We love you and your daughters...we will miss not getting to know them.
sybil and bruno
Dear Danielle and Blake,
Although we have never met I feel as if I know you because of such wonderful things that my daughter, LeAnne has told me about both of you. How you showed compassion when she needed friends and how you took her in and made her part of your family. I can never find the words to express how much it has meant to me that you are such a good influence on LeAnne and Chad and your loss saddens LeAnne so much as it does us. Their hearts are breaking because of your loss. I am so sorry that these babys did not get to share their lives with you. You both would have been such wonderful Christian parents. I pray that you will always have the same wonderful positive attitude you have. There are so many parents who go through this and do not glorify God in these times but feel so confident that you glorify God in every aspect of your lives, even now when you are hurting so badly.
I didn't mean to write a book . I mainly wanted to find a way to encourage you and to let you know that many are praying for you that you do not even know.
Love and prayers today for you,
The Freeman's in Columbus, MS
so sorry for your loss. i am thankful you were able to spend some time holding and sharing with your daughter. i hope the memories of the time you had together will carry you through the difficult days ahead. we are praying and thinking of you and your families during this season of heartache.
-Zach & Kara Sheets
via Mo's blog
Danielle and Blake- You continue to enter my mind as I go about my daily routine. I have found myself praying for you in short bursts throughout the day.
I hope you can feel the power of those that love and are praying for you over the next days and weeks.
I also know that our Lord, who is sovereign, is holding you in his arms right now, carrying you through something you could never walk through on your own.
Keep up your faith and believe He will get you through as He has before.
We're thinking of you and praying for you. Our hearts are broken too... Jennifer & Dave Reuss
Danielle and Blake,
Ryan and I are praying for both of you and your families right now. I am so very sorry to hear about baby Caroline. I pray that God will bring you peace and ease your pain & grief. Try to find some comfort in knowing how many people you have thinking of you both.
Sending you lots of hugs and love, Carla
Blake and Danielle,
There are no words to express what heartache I feel for you, your parents, your siblings, and all your friends who wanted so badly for Caroline to be united with her parents in life. I just can't get you off my mind and, like your friend Rachel, find myself praying for you randomly and in sort of a jibberish way...it's hard to know what to say. Blake's wording about the girls being held by God did bring a smile to my face. How precious! Thank you all for sharing through this blog. It makes all of us who aren't with you feel as though we are connected. Billy and I love you both! Jill F.
Blake and Danielle - Our tears are flowing at this time. You are like our children. We can't imagine your sorrow but we can also understand completely your joy. Imagine two precious baby girls waiting on you to live eternally with our Father God and His loving Son Jesus! What parent could want more for their children! This world is not our home. Perhaps that is easier to understand at our age than yours. We love you both and will pray our Lord grant you His peace at this time. We will renew our commitment to stay faithful to our Lord in order to see Finley and Caroline one day. We know they are beautiful!
Blake and Danielle,
I am so sad about the death of Danielle. I know that your hearts are broken. You are and will be in my prayers.
Jennifer Hicks
Danielle & Blake:
We are grieving with you over the death of your beautiful daughter. On the day of your wedding, none of us could foreseen either the joy or the pain that has come to you since. We are offering you and your families to God for his comfort.
You were so wise to hold, caress, and talk to Caroline. And let us remind you: Caroline's death is not and never could have been God's will or plan. God's enemy (and yours!) is the source of all the sin and death that cause us such pain. Now you have still another reason to hate sin and to seek God for his peace and strength. The One in you is greater than the evil one who prowls this world to destroy.
We love you,
Myra & Rubel
You have done a beautiful job with your home and landscaping. It is such a tribute to your precious girls. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. I would love to talk to you soon and I think of you often. We continue to pray for you.
Kim
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