Sept. 13: I haven’t posted in a couple weeks because I’ve been really sad. Our friends Heather and Michael were expecting a baby boy in late August. To our extraordinary sadness, they found during a routine check-up on September 1 that their baby had no heartbeat. Heather delivered baby Allan Fredrick’s body on Saturday, September 2. He was seven pounds, 1/2 ounce and was 20 and 1/2 inches long.
Heather and Michael’s family gathered close to them and helped them through their life-altering first week. On Friday, September 8, my brother Michael, our friend Anne, and I drove out to share Heather and Michael’s grief. I ended up staying through Tuesday. My mom headed out to Ann Arbor today.
Allan was a beautiful baby. He had a perfect little face with a half-moon chin, big hands and feet, and soft brown hair. I only wish we could have known him more. I feel so lucky that he touched my life, and he will always hold a place in my heart. I hope that by reading this, you may feel closer to Allan and remember him.
And think of Heather and Michael. They have far too much grief to bear.