Mom gambles on inducing labor. The terminally ill husband will meet his baby daughter two weeks early.
Having a child is a life-changing event that changes a person’s life forever.
One particular pampering
Most will hold their child thousands of times more over the course of their lives. But for one girl, her father only held her once and never again.
45 minutes of pure bliss
Mark Aulger held his daughter, Savannah, for 45 minutes the day she was born and then never held her again after that. Mark went into a coma the day Savannah was born, and he died a few days later.
The events leading up to Savannah’s birth and Mark’s death are detailed below.
After eight months of chemotherapy, Mark learned he was cancer-free on December 11, 2011.
Mark was admitted to the hospital nine days before the birth of his fifth child and diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease caused by scarred or damaged tissue. This disease was caused by chemotherapy in Mark’s case.
When it comes to pulmonary fibrosis, most diagnosed have a three to five-year life expectancy with the aid of specific treatments.
Things take a downturn
January 16, 20212: Hopes of steroid and oxygen treatments failed, and things began to take a turn for the worse.
Two weeks before Savannah was due, it became clear treatments weren’t working, and Mark wouldn’t have much longer to live. The family was told he had only one week.
A daring choice
Savannah’s mother, Diane, decided to induce labor early with the help of her doctors so that Mark could meet his daughter.
January 18, 2012: Mark rested in his bed in the delivery room while Diana gave birth. Mark’s oxygen levels were sufficient for him to hold her for 45 minutes. And of course, those forty-five minutes were emotional for him and Diane, who says she cried the whole time, understandably.
Slowly fading away
Mark attempted to hold Savannah again on January 19, 2012, but was unsuccessful. And unfortunately, mark slipped into a coma.
Diane claims that while her husband was in a coma, she would place the baby on his chest and his hand would move toward her. Mark, she claims, would shake his head and moan in repose if Savannah cried.
Whether you believe this is possible or not, it is heartbreaking to think about how badly Mark must have wanted to comfort and hold his daughter.
January 23, 2012: Mark passed away surrounded by his family.
An outpouring of love
In the days following Mark’s death, the family became overwhelmed with support from others. From money to baby supplies, the love was abundant. Diane was even able to purchase a minivan thanks to the kindness of others, allowing the family to move forward.
This story is full of sadness as father and daughter only share a brief moment together at the beginning of her life and the end of his.
But it is important to remember the happiness that this opportunity gave Mark in the moment and Savannah for the rest of her life. She can grow up knowing she was held by her father and even has a photo where the special moment lives forever.
The Augler family’s story is full of sadness, strength, and resilience, all in one.
Watch the full, powerful story in the video below.