Just shy of two months ago, our 10th child was born with several congenital abnormalities.  Due to the advance knowledge we had of Siena’s condition, we made arrangements for her immediate baptism and confirmation. While doctors were initially able to stabilize Siena, unfortunately her lungs were not strong enough and she passed away after 105 minutes.

Since Siena’s death, I have committed myself to speaking honestly about the realities of parenting through miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.  Siena is our 10th child.  Sadly, our 4th child, Kenna was stillborn due to an umbilical cord defect and I delivered three babies in miscarriage.  I am surrounded by the abundant joy of my three boys and two of my girls each day, but death has been as much of my mothering journey as life.  It is a different kind of motherhood when one is touched by these tragic losses.

Siena may have only lived for a short time, but she knew nothing but love. She was surround by her parents, siblings, godparents, grandparents, an aunt, and many friends.  She touched the lives of each one of us, and of those who were part of the medical team that day.  I like to think Siena was conceived in love, nurtured in love, born into love, and finally received into Love.

Read more of my faith journey mothering Siena at Work and Play, Day by Day.