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It was a Thursday morning on June 13, 2002. We got up early to go to our regularly scheduled doctors appointment. We had two weeks to go before the big day, the birth of our first child. I was feeling very tired that morning because I didn't sleep well. When we arrived at the office we were in the waiting room and I felt a really big kick in my side. We both laughed. We were so happy because once again we were going to hear the heatbeat of our baby.
What was to happen next was something we never could have imagined.
We went back into the room for our check-up. The nurse came in with the doppler to listen to the heartbeat. She was having a hard time finding it. At this point I got scared. Every bad thought went through my head. I looked at Mike and the look he gave me was sheer terror. But then we heard a heartbeat and we both exhaled with a big sigh. Neither one of us relized we were holding our breath. What we heard was my heartbeat not the baby's. We then went to the ultrasound room were Dr. Ross, one of our OB's looked for the heartbeat. He found no heartbeat and no movement at all. He brought in Dr. Barbour for a second opinion. It was confirmed that our baby had died. Life at this moment seemed like a big whirlwind but at the same time it felt like everything stopped. But in fact it was about to shift into overdrive. Our lives at this point are changed forever. Our innocence has forever been lost.
We were admitted into the hospital and labor induction was started. Tena's mom flew in from North Carolina. Her brother and sister in law flew in from Arizona. Her sister and neice were here with us. Mike's parents rushed to the hospital as soon as they heard the news. His brother was also there. As time went on friends and other family members showed up to offer any support they could.
The realization that our baby had died was unbelievable. It was hard to accept the fact that we had to deliver a baby that would never take a breath, cry or open its eyes. But 30 hours later, with the help of Daddy, Aunt Wendy, Nana, Grandma and Auntie Laura (Tena's best friend)and of course our OB, Dr. DeCook, baby Sammantha came quitely into the world.
After Daddy cut the cord and Mommy delivered the placenta, we still knew that Sammantha wasn't alive but we were completely amazed by her and what she brought to us. We spent every moment we could with her, we changed her clothes, had her baptized with all our family, friends, nurses and Pat Vasi. We took lots and lots of pictures and even some video of her that night. We held her every chance we had, which was just about all the time. I don't think she was ever put down until we left the hospital. Everyone who wanted to got the chance to hold her and to see how amazing she was. Sometimes she even looked like she was smiling.
She was and always will be our beautiful baby girl who has changed our lives and those around us forever.
It's hard to say this but while we were in the hosptial it seemed like nothing was real. We had to come to terms that she was gone but spending all the time we were there with her somehow seemed to comfort us. But when it was time to leave and go home without our daughter, it was devistating. The thought of leaving her could not be put into words. We kept waiting for someone to wake us up from our nightmare.
She was buried four days later at Queen of Mary Cemetary in Hillside, Illinois. She is buried in the "Baby Play Land" were all the baby angels are. She has a beautiful headstone with lots of decorations. We go there every Sunday after church and breakfast and when ever we can. We can say that being there is comforting to us. It always makes us happy and relaxed.
We hope you enjoy learning about our daughter, Sammantha Jane. And thank you for visiting. Tena and Mike Broton.
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We waited six years
Through good and bad tears
When we saw your heart beat
I thought I was asleep
Month by month inside you grow
And I just knew
You were to be our little angel
Week by week and day by day
We waited to hear them say
It's time to go - it's a boy or a girl
To hear your first cry
Instead of yours I heard mine
You were gone two weeks too early
I prayed it was a lie
That I would never hear you cry
You were born still
Now you truly are an angel
Our baby girl
Written by Mommy
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IRISH BLESSING
May the road
rise to meet you
May the wind
be always
at your back
May the sun
shine warm
upon your face
The rains fall soft
upon your fields
And, until we meet again
may God hold you
in the hollow
of his hand
Author Unknown
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This is the song that Father Brad sang as our precious baby girl was being laid to rest:
Surely In The Presence Of The Lord
By: Lanny Wolfe
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place
I can feel His mighty power and His grace
I can hear the brush of angels' wings
I see glory on each face
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place
I can feel His loving power and the grace
There's a holy truth within me that no thing can displace
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place
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Please sign Sammantha's Guestbook to let us know that you were here. We would like to thank you very much for taking the time to visit and meet our precious baby girl. God bless all the Angels in Heaven. Angel kisses to you all.
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You are now a BIG SISTER!!! Thank you baby girl for everything. We will never forget you. We love you. You are our first born baby girl. Please keep a close watch over your sister and Daddy.
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Once again Sammantha you are a BIG SISTER to twin brothers, Austin Thomas and James (Jimmy) Lee. Thank you so much for everything that you have giving us, you and God. I miss you and love you. You are never out of my heart or mind. Please keep watching over us and again Thank you baby girl.
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When signing Sammantha's guestbook I would love for you to leave you email address so that I can thank you personally. Also if you've had a loss I'd love to hear your story. Thank you so much for visiting my daughter it means so much to know that she is able to be known in this world.
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