Posted on 12/07/2007 2:09:23 PM PST by rawhide
It was to be the one and only cuddle Carolyn Isbister would have with her tiny, premature daughter.
Rachael had been born minutes before - weighing a mere 20oz - and had only minutes to live. Her heart was beating once every ten seconds and she was not breathing.
As doctors gave up, Miss Isbister lifted her baby out of her hospital blanket and placed her on her chest.
She said: "I didn't want her to die being cold. So I lifted her out of her blanket and put her against my skin to warm her up. Her feet were so cold.
"It was the only cuddle I was going to have with her, so I wanted to remember the moment." Then something remarkable happened. The warmth of her mother's skin kickstarted Rachael's heart into beating properly, which allowed her to take little breaths of her own.
Miss Isbister said: "We couldn't believe it - and neither could the doctors. She let out a tiny cry.
"The doctors came in and said there was still no hope - but I wasn't letting go of her. We had her blessed by the hospital chaplain, and waited for her to slip away.
"But she still hung on. And then amazingly the pink colour began to return to her cheeks.
"She literally was turning from grey to pink before our eyes, and she began to warm up too."
Four months later, Rachael was allowed home weighing 8lb - the same as a newborn baby - and she has a healthy appetite.
(snip)
Doing well: Carolyn Isbister at home with Rachael
Happy ending!
The baby looks like the photographer has done something absolutely horrifying in the second picture.
Bump
Awesome.
Thanks - I love a happy ending!
Guys aren’t supposed to get watery eyes, but that is a tear jerker- in a good way.
ping, you have to come read this.
Mother know best bump
Awesome story. Except it does something to my glasses, they’re kinda foggy.
bmflr
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Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
Mommy's warmth, mommy's and daddy's love, the sound of mommy's heartbeat, and the providence of God! Powerful and awesome!
Great post...glad I saw it!
Amazing. God is good.
Wonderful. The baby looks a little surprised, though. :)
Y’all will want to see this!
Amen!
Doctors should never second guess life or the will to live.
Seriously though, cool story.
The LOVE of a Mommy.........
Thank you Lord!!!!!
Thanks for the ping BG. Thanks for the post RH. Way to go momma! She knew what to do. These stories are making me cry today.
Rachel bump!
Just read the rest of the story. How horrible the docs over there were ready to give up on her. Maybe it’s a good thing they did in this case though. If they had done all their poking and proding initially, maybe she wouldn’t have made it. Hard to say.
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