Savanna Rose

My husband and I are high school sweethearts that had our first child at the age of 15 and 16. We were able to raise our son Jeffrey and learn from him for the first 14 months of his life. He passed away March 24th 1996. He was a normally healthy baby that had gotten pnuemonia. We found him in his crib that fateful morning. WE had since gotten married at the age of 18 and 19. We decided that it was time for another bundle of joy in our lives. We tried for 2 years and finally our little girl Shelby was born. She has been the apple of our eye ever since. She is now five. We were not actively trying to have another child when we found out that we were pregnant with our little Savanna. We were both excited and we had named her from the start. We had picked her first name and we allowed Shelby to pick her middle name. We could not have been more excited about having a baby. We had numerous ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy and had a scare when we were 22 weeks pregnant. They had found choroid plexus cysts on Savanna'a brain. After seeing the neonatologist they assured us that these would go away with no complications. We were so relieved. I had just finished shopping for baby items when we were 28 weeks pregnant. We were preparing to paint her room the next week. I work partime night shift at a local hospital. I went to work on the evening of November 28th 2004. Everything was feeling fine and I felt the baby moving that night. The next morning I went to bed and woke around 11 AM. I felt it strange that I hadn't felt Savanna moving when I woke. Every morning I would wake with a mad dash to the bathroom b/c Savanna would be kicking my bladder. I ate breakfast and laid on my left side and still didn't feel movement. I walked the dog outside for 10 minutes and came back and laid down again. Still no movement. I called the doctor's office and they told me to come in an hour and they would check the heartbeat. I have to admit I thought I was just being paranoid. I thought for sure I would feel Savanna moving when I was sitting in the waiting room. They took me back to listen for fetal heart tones and I could tell that there was something wrong. I heard a heart beat but I knew that it was my own. They rushed me for a stat ultrasound where they told me there was no heartbeat. The devistation began. I had decisions to make that were the hardest ever. I decided to be induced that night at 9PM. Finally, after almost 24 hours our Savanna was born on Tuesday November 30th 2004 at 2025. She weighed 2pds 10oz and was 15 1/2 inches long. I was overwhelmed by the support that I received from the staff at Women's and Babie's hospital. We got our little keepsake box and they dressed her in a white gown with a satin white blanket. I was soo amazed at how she looked exactly like our daughter Shelby. She had a full head of dark hair. She had tiny little facial features. She had perfect little fingers and toes. She was perfect. My daughter Shelby got to hold her little sister for the first time. She had been soo excited about her arrival. She knew as she was holding her that there was something wrong. She asked alot of questions. We held her for 3 hours kissing her and cuddling her but finally we had to let her out of our arms. I spent the rest of my night crying and sleeping. We now are making funeral arrangements. She will be burried with her brother on top of my grandfather. We have memories and pictures to let us see our little Savanna. My five year old daughter says that Savanna is living in a beautiful castle in Heaven with the rest of the angels. Thank You for allowing us to share our story with you. It helps to share your story with others. The Martin Family