In Loving Memory
Gabriella Heather Robinson
October 29, 1997 - September 16, 1998
I will never forget the day I found out I was pregnant - I was elated. I hoped so much for a little girl.
On October 29, 1997, my dreams became reality when I gave birth to a 7lb 5oz precious little girl named Gabriella. I remember when she was first born, I looked at the baby from the wrong angle and I said to the doctor "Oh, I have another little boy, don't I". (Whew, I am so glad I didn't, my son would have hated hearing that tone of voice!!) And when they said no, it was a girl, I started screaming and crying - I was absolutely elated! Me - a baby girl. I loved the precious hours I spent with her in the hospital - there was a lot of private time for us. Her brother came to visit and was very excited to see his new sister.
I had bought two outfits before I had her - one for a boy and one for a girl. The outfit she wore home from the hospital has always been my favorite.
Her first Christmas was so special - my family felt so complete - we were now four! She wouldn't wake up for her Christmas pictures, but she still looked sweet as pie. This Christmas we got her a pooh bear that talks and wiggles his nose when you push it. When she was a little older, she would sit in her crib and whack him really hard until he talked - then she cracked up :)
She had several nicknames. I called her my pooh bear, because she was so adorable and I love the pictures of her with her pooh hat. She was called tomato because when she cried she would turn really red and ball up. And her dad called her pumpkin, because she was born right before halloween. But the most common nickname was "La-La", given to her by her brother who could not mouth her whole name. Everyone called her La-La. I still do - oh I miss her so much.
There were several photos taken at our wedding on March 3, 1999. Here are a few of my favorites:
And here is one of my "pooh bear"
This next picture was taken a month and a half before she died, I remember that day because we were celebrating a birthday for a friend's son. She had a blast, and was shown off to many people.
On September 16, 1998, I came home from my graveyard shift and went upstairs to get Gabriella - it was unusual for her to still be asleep. When I went in, I saw her stuck between her bed and the wall. "Silly girl" I remember thinking. Then I pulled her up - my baby had died. I tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead when the paramedics arrived. My world fell apart that day, I lost my little girl. There was so much I still wanted to do with her - I was at the store looking for dolls for her right before she died. And only 2 days before her death, we had dressed her up in her little princess outfit for Halloween - she looked so precious it brought tears to her daddy's eyes. Little did I know we would be burying her in that costume.
Let the little children
Come to me, and do no
hinder them, for the
kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as them.
Matthew 19:14
The cause of Gabriella's death is officially "positional asphyxia". In more ordinary language, she slipped between her bed and the wall and she suffocated. The reason she died is because she slept in a bed that was not safe. It is very important when using a toddler bed to put a rail on BOTH sides, hers just had the rail on one side and the other side was pushed against the wall. This can happen with any lightweight bed or mattress. I had never anticipated this could happen. I did the exact same thing with my son when he was her age without ever having a problem. Please don't question my actions, I do that enough myself. This causes approximately 6 deaths per year in children under 6 years old in the United States. I know it doesn't seem like much, but in 1998 one of those children was my daughter. Please take the measures to protect your own children.
My Little Angel
My precious little baby
Oh how I miss you so,
I think about you every day,
More than you could ever know.
I wish you were here.
I don't understand why you left,
A cruel joke that life has played,
I know that I could have given you more,
And the ultimate price I have paid.
Because your not here.
A petite little La-La, a cute tomato,
And a sister that made brother proud,
My first daughter, and my little princess,
Who is now up amongst the clouds.
Why aren't you here?
The pain, it hurts, it burns inside,
Sometime I don't know how I have survived,
But if missing the pain means losing my memories,
It is not worth it - not worth your life.
You were here.
You crawled.
You smiled.
You laughed.
You even started a couple of words.
You taught me a valuable lesson in life.
You LIVED - no matter how short it may seem,
YOU LIVED - and changed my life forever -
And although it may not seem like it, you changed it
for the better.
I LOVE YOU MY LITTLE LA-LA, and I always will.
Love,
Mommy
For
Mr. Tom Reid -
A special message for a special person
Please visit this very
special site:
The Garden of Angels
Awards
These awards are linked to the sites of the person who gave them to me. Please visit them - they are all very special!
