The First Sonogram-July 22, 2002
What a wonderful day it was, knowing I was expecting a baby.  The first ones I told was my mother and grandmother.  Mom read a fortune from a fortune cookie at a local Chinese Restaurant that read "Wonderful News is in store don't you see, a new little grandbaby in 2003!"  Praise the Lord for this beautiful gift of life that was Heaven sent.  The 1st sonogram proved that indeed I was pregnant and that this little life growing in me had developed all major internal organs and was very active.

2nd Sonogram-August 1, 2002
All of the specialists were gathered around us looking at the monitor overhead as the sonogram was performed.  It was learned that all of your organs were developed correctly except for a neural tube defect labeled as anencephaly.  They told us that this was a rare condition that is not viable with life. Or anotherwords, our baby would die.  The doctors left us alone in our grief, shock and disbelief.  We also found out that our baby was a boy. 

Follow-Up Appointment with Dr. David E. Garza, OB/GYN-August 2, 2002
After the specialists showed me horrible medical pictures of babies with anencephaly, stressed that I would probably have a c-section, or our baby's bones may have to be fractured or dislocated in order to deliver him naturally, and encouraged an abortion, I wasn't sure what my doctor would say.  Would he be just as bleek as the rest of those doctors?  Would he think I was crazy knowing I wanted to carry this baby to term? Like an angel on Earth, Dr. Garza hugged me in a tight embrace and told me that I was making the right decision and that he and his wife would have done the same.  He said that we would treat this like any other pregnancy for the love of life.

"The Birth Of An Angel"-January 27, 2003     6:23 a.m.
A message from mom to son: It was a difficult birth for you my son. You were a little fighter and refused to let your mommy endure an operation.  You came on your own without any induction medications.  You had a strong will like your mother and even a strong enough heart to breathe a few minutes of life in my arms.  You were carefully delivered by the loving hands of Dr. John Kellum.  My ob/gyn was out of town that weekend.  Remember, you came as a surprise because everyone thought that I would have to be induced or have a c-section scheduled later that week to deliver you.  You were a big boy weighing in near 8 pounds and 21 inches long. Dr. Kellum said you had a large 13 inch chest.  I guess you would have made a great linebacker for the Texas Longhorns, right baby?  Your skin was milky white, your hair was dark blonde and curly, your hands and feet were pudgy like those of a porcelain doll.  You were gorgeous, everything that I imagined, my precious little angel.  You were my focus, my little miracle was finally here, nothing else mattered, no one else existed for just a moment.  You were at the center of this huge, heavy heart inside of me.  As our surroundings came more clear and less blurry, I realized that I was not alone.  The room was filled with loved ones including the wonderful medical staff at the hospital.  Many cared for us as we didn't realize we had already began to touch the lives of others without trying. Son, we were never alone, I will never be alone because you will always live in my heart and soul. Love, Mommy

1st Valentine's Day-February 14, 2003
We visited the cemetery and brought a gorgeous heart on an easel made of white mums and red roses in the center.  John Raphael would have been 2 weeks old on Valentine's Day and of course Mommy's biggest Valentine!