Donating your blood is already extending someone else life. If you’ll donate one of your organs while you live is the best example of sharing the gift of life. You become a hero to someone in need if you’ll donate one of your organs when you die.
Although Pregnancy is a different story and it is one of the most joyful things that could happen to any expecting parents. Giving birth is a miracle made out of an amazing feeling called love. In nine months the parents already feel the unconditional love they’ll give to their soon to be born child. Excited to meet that little angel, tiny bundle-of-joy, the innocent face and cute little person.
For a couple in Oklahoma City, Keri and Royce, their story is kinda the opposite thing. During pregnancy, the doctors discovered that their second baby is “incompatible with life”.
In December 2016, during the first normal baby scan, the couple found out that their expected second baby had an extremely rare case called anencephaly.
FYI: Anencephaly is the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp that occurs during embryonic development. It is a cephalic disorder that results from a neural tube defect that occurs when the rostral (head) end of the neural tube fails to close, usually between the 23rd and 26th day following conception. – Wiki
The expecting couple Keri and Royce knew that the chance of their baby’s survival is literally zero percent. The couple had options to terminate the baby straightaway or wait for her to reach full term and deliver it just like a normal baby.
The baby’s survival cannot be predicted but doctors said there is a chance to deliver the baby. Keri asked if they could donate their daughter’s organ as she reaches her full term. The doctors were happy with the couple’s decision and answered yes to them.
The couple finds hope and made a mission to keep the baby healthy. They would welcome her into this world and die but the baby could give the gift of life to another in need. – Royce
The couple decided to name their second baby Eva. They monitored the baby and felt like the baby is normal because Eva gives her kick. From time-to-time, they go to the doctor to see Eva’s development. During a 4D ultrasound, their eldest keep saying “that’s my sister! I have a sister”.
The couple continues to take care of the baby and imagined what are the good things will happen to Eva’s Organ. They even thought that Eva’s organs might be able to help someone who is destined to be a future president. Day by Day they are giving themselves more motivation until Eva reaches full term.
Sadly during Keri’s Pregnancy 37th week, she doesn’t feel Eva’s kick anymore and for her, this is a really bad news. They calmed and went to the hospital only to find out that her heartbeat could not be traced. She was immediately advised to have a C-Section to removed the unborn no heartbeat child.
Their dreams of giving a gift of life from Eva vanished. Even though they knew Eva’s chance of survival was low to a zero percent they couldn’t accept the reality that she could be dead.
“We had tried to do everything right, tried to think of others, tried to take every possible step to make this work, and it didn’t. No organ donation. Not even for the failsafe, research. We felt cheated.”
Keri was induced so she could give birth vaginally. Royce recalled that Keri’s labour was the “the darkest, most painful hours of our lives” and the worst part is not seeing his offspring alive even just for five minutes.
“I just wanted to hold my baby girl and see her chest move up and down. I just wanted to be her daddy, if only for a few seconds.”
Five minutes later …
The doctor received a call from the donor organization LifeShare saying they found a receiver for Eva’s eyes. Upon hearing the announcement, the couple’s darkest moment turned 360 degrees knowing that Eva could still continue her purpose and give life to others.
“In the time we spent with her, one was always just a little bit open, and I fought the temptation to peek, I can’t ever hold my daughter again. I can’t ever talk to her or hear her giggle. But I can dream about looking into her eyes for the first time one day, and find out what colour they are.” – Royce