Here's our story...

We found out in May of 2014 that we were expecting. It was a world-wind pregnancy full of all the hopes and joys of expecting your first child. The pregnancy was text book - up until 35 weeks - we were told everything was on track and baby was doing great! The Wednesday before we could not find a heart beat, I had gone in for a regular checkup, they found the heart beat. I remember the nurse even saying, the heart rate was a little higher which might be indicative of a girl. Two days later our world change forever...

I woke up on Friday, after what I remember was a really good nights sleep, but something felt terribly off that day. In retrospect, I think our baby must have passed away that night. I went to work Friday morning with the sense that something was still off but being my first pregnancy, I did not know what to expect. I was feeling decreased movement but when I searched online, some blogs said as the baby gets bigger there is less movement. (I now know this is NEVER the case. The movement may change, but should NOT decrease.) I called the nurse line toward the end of the day and they could not fit me in but told me to drink orange juice and lie down on my side. When I got home from work, I did just that. I was having Braxton-hicks contractions which I thought was baby pushing up against my belly - which I was associating as movement. I went the rest of that evening telling myself everything was ok.

Saturday morning I woke up and knew something was wrong! But we had planned to do our baby shopping that day, and use the gift cards from our baby shower to purchase the necessities for the nursery, I was excited. I now think that excitement clouded my fears and worries. After baby shopping, we came home and something still was not right. I called the nurse line again and they told us to come in right away! We literally dropped the bags in the doorway and headed to the hospital. There was still fear but hope that even if we had to deliver at this point (I was 35 weeks) baby would be ok....

We got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the fetal monitor. I remember the nurse's hand shaking as she moved the monitor over my tummy looking for the heartbeat. She said she had to leave the room and would be right back. Then the doctor came in with the ultrasound machine. He put it over my tummy and then we received the words that no parent should ever have to hear "I'm sorry. There is no heartbeat..." (We later found out he passed away due to a triple nuchal cord.) Our world shattered beneath us.

Our precious baby, Theodore Joseph Wisniowski, was born - still born - on December 21, 2014. There are not enough words to describe the journey we have been on. He would be turning 9 this December. We will NEVER forget him or get over him! He will always and forever be our angel!!! He has taught us so much and has made us discover a deeper meaning to life, our faith, and this world. He has worked miracles in our lives and his younger brothers know him and talk about him.  They know they have an intercessor in Heaven.  We pray to him every night. We can't wait for the day we get to meet him in heaven!!

We are so thankful to our amazing family and friends who have supported us through the years - as we "carry our heaviest cross"!! Some days were, and still are, harder than others. When you can't go on yourself, our Lord gave us angels, in human form, to carry us through - those angels are our family and friends who have walked the journey with us and choose to recognize and remember with us!! If you are still reading this, please support the Missing GRACE organization. It was there to help us when we had lost our way and didn't know where to turn. We hope and pray that the same resource can be available for other families going through a similar loss.

Here's why we are raising funds...

If you are still reading this, please support the Missing GRACE organization. They were  there to help us when we had lost our way and didn't know where to turn. We hope and pray that the same resources can be available for other families going through a similar loss.