Sweet Sinai

As I have mentioned previously, our experience in the NICU united us with an extraordinary group of families. We prayed together on dark days. We listened to each other’s fears. We cheered for one another over the accomplishment of a tiny (yet monumental) milestone. And we all celebrated the triumph of coming home.

It is only natural that we would be honoring each of our children during their first birthdays – and so we honored sweet Sinai a few short weeks ago. (See photo below from her first birthday).

There are just a handful of us that endured such a lengthy stay in the NICU at the same time and we know who each other are. We respect one another and share a common bond that forever unites us. Mostly, we embrace each other as Mothers that are fighters and our children as survivors.

This is why it is especially hard to accept when one of our “own” babies losses their battle. Shortly after her birthday, Sinai ended up the hospital. Much to our shock and dismay, Sinai passed away.

The chapel overflowed (literally) with family and friends. The men stood graciously to make room for the ladies as we belted through tears “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands”. My heart swelled when I saw so many familiar faces – families from the NICU one year ago, the nurses and the Neonatologists.

At the funeral, the pastor mentioned that “Sinai” is actually a triangular peninsula in Egypt between the Mediterranean and Red Seas. It is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two continents.  The minister referenced just how many people Sinai “bridged together’ during her short time on earth – how many unique friendships have formed, how many lives have been touched.

While Sinai is our blessing, her mother is our gift. Her strength and grace is beyond anything I have ever known. I may not understand, but I trust God when he takes a loved one home. I just wrestle sometimes with the timing. After the year Sinai, her brother and mother endured, I have a hard time accepting such a tragic and sudden loss.

Leave it to Sinai’s mother to put MY emotions at ease. As she joined us for dinner last night with her grace and poise, she told us her faith was strong and through the anguish, she feels peace.

We are so honored to know such a woman and to have been – although tragically so short - blessed with sweet Sinai.