Hazel, a young 35-year-old mother and her devoted older husband Neil yearn to have another child. Mae is now 2 _ years old. To fulfill their dream, the couple travels to St. Louis for the in-vitro process. Within the first fort-eight hours of their arrival, Neil falls, shatters a hip, and undergoes serious & lengthy surgery. The trauma to his body activates a liver condition and he rapidly begins to decline. It is weeks before they are able to return to their home – Hazel pregnant and Neil more or less disabled. Dear friends at home prayed and kept in close contact.

Then in January Hazel’s dad died in Sweden. The travel abroad with toddler Mae for this emotional event took its toll. Hazel at her dad’s funeral began to lose amniotic fluid and the unborn baby was in danger.

In another country, hospitalized, Hazel juggled all the emotions of the death of her father, the separation from Neil, the illness of her loving husband back in the states, the bittersweet situation of the babe in her womb. Dear friends at home prayed and kept in close contact.

Indecision on the part of all the doctors involved was a stress in itself. After about 2 months Hazel decided to venture home with the help of her brother. Dear friends at home prayed, kept in close contact, and now took an active role in being present in various and multiple ways.

By April hospitalization for Hazel became necessary. Neil meantime was failing rapidly, was back and forth to the hospital, and Mae was adjusting to many new situations for her care taking.

Baby David was sure to suffer some effects, if, in fact, he was even to live. It was vital that he continues to develop in the womb for at least 26-28 weeks.

He was born into this world on May 2, and was sustained on many life support instruments. He died on May 6.

The heartbreak to this little family was indescribable. Friends continued to pray, to stay in close communication, to be present, and to try to comfort.

Hazel gathered all her strength and all the memories of her new and short lived baby. She created a Baby David shelf. His remains rested there for a while among the pictures, the keepsakes, and the memorial gifts and notes brought by friends.

Neil was becoming weaker and weaker. He wanted to keep his family close by., He became quite grounded – and spent many weeks in the hospital. Each time Hazel was close by in her strong & simply optimistic way.

Neil died on July 16 of the same year. It was the actual due-date of Baby David.

A parish minister, Ann, had known this family since they first moved to the area. She was there when Hazel became an extremely active new member in her church. She was instrumental in helping her find a place in her church community. She was there with a quiet listening quality – a presence that seemed to make everything all right. She visited regularly during the difficult times. She phoned just to check in and say, “ I’m thinking about you. How are things today?”

She cared deeply and knew that made a difference. Ann didn’t offer advice. She didn’t try to fix anything. If asked, she shared her opinion, and seemed to always affirm Hazel with a belief that Hazel knew in her own heart the answers she was seeking.

- Sister Agmes

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