Angelica Fielding Munk 5/4/2011 -5/9/2011

Candice and Peter's baby daughter was born alive last Wednesday morning and spent the next 5 days with her mother, father and sister before she died peacefully in the night lying between her parents as they all slept together in their home in Nashville, TN.  

Angelica came home from the hospital with her parents the day after she was born like most babies do. Angelica was pink, ate well, had a peaceful demeanor and was literally much like any other newborn except for one thing. Their daughter wouldn't have as as many breaths to take. 

Starting on her second day of life, she would without warning lose her pink color, and stop breathing for several minutes as her little angel heart would suddenly stop beating. Each time her parents held her and said their goodbyes never knowing which of these moments was the very last moment they were spending with their living daughter. Every time though she would recover in several minutes and they would have her back again. They were happy as each moment and then day passed and she was still there breathing in their arms. 

Finally Mother's Day came, Angelica's fifth day with her family. Candice dressed Laura and Angelica in their matching dresses she had sewn and Peter took pictures of his girls out in the yard.

 

That was the last day they spent together in this life as a family. 

Losing a child is every parent's worst fear. But Candice and Peter have just been amazing throughout the entire ordeal, inspiring all of us with their willingness to go along with Heavenly Father's plan for their lives. And they have remained so grateful. Grateful for nine months of a wonderful pregnancy where the baby was safe and well. Grateful for a delivery of a living baby daughter. And then mostly grateful for the five beautiful days that they just spent as a family giving her all the love they could for as long as they could.   They know that they will be together as a family one day and until then she will live with the angels watching over her family from up above.  I think most of us Fielding are thinking that one of those angels is our dear sister Arianne that we lost so many years ago. 

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are so grateful for the knowledge we have of eternal life as families. It gives us the gift of peace and happiness despite the very hardest of trials that life may bring us. 

              I love this picture of mother, father and child. It expresses the true joy that they have recently experienced. Farewell Angelica. I too look forward to meeting you someday. 


Here is a link to their family blog if you would like to hear them tell their story themselves.


peterandcandice