Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Do you know...?

I don't even know how long it has been since she left us. I don't really want to know. It hurts so bad. Right now I could just scream at everyone I come in contact with. I can hardly stand to be around people. It is too draining. I just want to tell everyone to SHUT UP! I want so much to be ok for everyone around me. But really I am not and I never will be ok. None of this is ok. It will never be ok. Life just doesn't go back to what it was. It doesn't get fixed or "get all better". That part of it is fine with me. I don't want to go back to where I was. But it is really frustrating when everyone around me is on the same path they were on before Ava was born. I know my friends are sad and hurt for me but nothing is the same. It can't be the same. I am barely breathing here and the world just keeps on spinning. Nothing holds the same weight it did before Ava was born. Some of this is wonderful because it has changed my perspective. I am grabbing moments with my children because we don't know how many more we will get...holding my husband closer and tighter. But what about the stuff that I thought was important before. So much has become so unimportant to me. And I can't imagine it becoming important again. And it really takes alot for me not to scream at people around me for not seeing that some things, most things, are just not as important as one may think! I wouldn't trade places for anything. I am humbled and honored to have my eyes opened and my heart opened like never before. Probably more than alot of people may ever experience. But honestly, it can be lonely. And this is not pride or self-righteousness. It is truth from a perspective of great loss and tragedy and from being striped almost completely bare of self. To go through something like this...to have all these feelings and emotions...I just don't have the words. Even if I could find some words it wouldn't do any justice. And I won't be able to make anyone understand. You don't know what it is like to hold your baby as she slips away. Death is ugly. It is not pretty. Do you know what it is like to hold your baby while she is having seizures? Do you know what it's like to have to stop feeding your baby because she refuses it and it causes her distress? Do you know what it is like to have to give morphine to your baby to help with the pain of her little body shutting down? Knowing that it should be lasting four hours but it only lasts for one? Do you know what it is like to see her color change from pink to blue or purple because she isn't getting enough oxygen and you know there is nothing you can do? Do you know what it is like to have your baby stop breathing for three minutes, or five minutes, or seven minutes and to then see her whole body arch back and gasp for a breath? Do you know what it is like to feel the warmth of her skin give way to the coldness of death? To see her pink skin turn ashen gray? Do you know what it is like to see the glaze come over her eyes and you know she is no longer looking at you but passed you? Do you know the smell of death on your sweet baby's breath? Remembering the day we lost her is enough to make me sick. It is strangling. So don't blame me for not caring about what you care about. I don't blame you for not knowing what it is like. What else is there to do but surrender. God, I surrender. There is nothing else to do.

3 comments:

Kipplyn said...

I am so sorry Rach. I love you and I am praying for you. I can't imagine how difficult this is. I don't expect you forget and move on. Ava will always be a part of the fabric that makes up your family.

Christy said...

Rachel, I am so glad you are able to blog about how you are feeling. I know we have talked about these emotions. You are feeling exactly how you should feel. Don't worry, no one judges you for that or is upset by it. I think maybe I didn't have to hear so much about everyone's petty concerns because I just stayed home more. You are brave and enter the big group gatherings... I just couldn't do that. It took me a while. But, I remember the exact feeling. It has changed you forever. Ava has left us all changed. We just don't show it in our every conversation. I love you...

Marci said...

Rachel,

I just found your blog and I can tell you that this post brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. Watching my father waste away with cancer and watching him through the final week of his life was so life changing for me as well. I know exactly what you mean about people worrying about petty things- - -I remember just wanting to shake people and say "Do you realize that THIS is SOOO NOT IMPORTANT!!! Why are you worrying about such nonsense?" I had to keep reminding myself that they had not been through what I had been through, had not seen what I had seen and had not felt the emotions I had felt. They couldn't understand.

My life has been changed forever- - -for the good I believe. I would give just about anything to have my dad back, but the new life perspective I have is priceless. I am thankful for so much more and appreciate the things that REALLY matter- - -which are mostly things that money cannot buy!

You will always ache for baby Ava- - I still do for my dad and I hate that for you- - -but you are stronger than you ever have been!!

Love ya!