Special Delivery

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Our First Book Delivery

When we first learned that Macy had trisomy 18, our goal was making as many memories with her as possible. We were determined to do whatever it took to achieve our goal of meeting her alive, but we were going to focus on her while she was in my belly as well. We had many ultrasounds, both 2D and 3D, we joined the perinatal comfort care program and had several guitar sessions with their music therapist, we read so many stories. And, we cherished every kick, no matter how uncomfortable it became because it meant that she was alive.

Some of our most special moments were with Kat and Macy together. Though only two years old, Kat understood much of what was going on, even before we told her that her sister was ‘sick’. She kissed my belly, she sang to her sister, she told her all about chromosomes and what it means to be a big sister. One of Kat’s favorite things was to have me read Special Delivery to her. She pointed to all the babies and we discussed different feeding options, what it would be like in the hospital, and the likelihood that we may not be able to bring Macy home. The book was the perfect springboard for us to start talking about Macy and why she was so special.

The print version of Special Delivery is almost here, and the first distribution is going to occur at the OC Walk to Remember on Saturday, October 6 at the District at Tustin Legacy. OC Walk to Remember is a non-profit organization that sponsors a fundraising 5k walk and memorial ceremony, with proceeds going to groups and organizations that support parents who have experienced infant loss of any kind. The Special Delivery team will be distributing copies of the book for free to all the families during the walk. I can’t even express what it means to me to be able to share something so close to my heart, something that helped me through some of the most difficult, yet heart-warming, conversations I’ve ever had.

Melissa and her design firm, Rise-and-Shine Studio, have worked tirelessly to rework the book into its current form. Our other sister, Diana, has been spreading the news like crazy. And, next weekend, many of our extended family and friends will be on hand to pass this book on to other families who may need that springboard. Much like the road to meeting Macy was a family endeavor, so is the fulfillment of her legacy.

For more information, please visit www.ocwalktoremember.org.

 

Melanie Tioleco-Cheng | September 28, 2012