Janelle's story started as many other baby girls waiting to come into the world. She had a Mommy and a Daddy and two big brothers to welcome her. Not to mention her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My pregnancy went as any other and that was a welcome relief after suffering 2 miscarriages. Janelle was born on August 27th 1992. The doctors knew right away that something was not right. I didn't get to hold or see her right away but even her Daddy knew that something was wrong. It was a very scary moment but the worst was yet to come.

We didn't know what was wrong with Janelle but I knew that my arms ached to hold her. All the other new Mommy's were getting their babies to feed and hold. Some even taking their bundles of joy home. I didn't get to do any of that. It was sometime later that we found out that Janelle's condition was "Lethal", as one of the doctors put it. I never forgave that doctor for using that term.

We were informed that Janelle had a genetic disorder, its name is Trisomy 13. In the back of my mind I refused to believe that she would die, I thought this can not happen to me. It was like a kick in the gut that night when we left the hospital to go home to our boys and face the family. We all cried and part of me belived it just may come true, but I wondered "HOW" could it be. I won't let it happen.

Janelle made it home for 10 short days, away from the hospital, that big building she knew as home. During that time I fed her, loved her, rocked her, and cherished her as any new mother would never really accepting she was going to leave. She also got to meet her family, her aunts and many cousins. She got a chance to feel the sunshine on her face, special thanks to her Aunt Barb who made sure of that!

Janelle's condition became worse and we were forced to take her back to the hospital where she died on September 21, 1992. She was a special little girl and changed many lives during her short stay on earth.

Since her death we have enriched our family with 2 more beautiful little girls and even though they never had the pleasure of meeting their "big sister", we talk about her to them and mention her name often.

We will always love you and never, ever forget you my special little daughter, Janelle. I love you baby!