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Chapter 70

Rows of baby incubators, flashing monitors, beeping alarms, and tiny babies attached to wires and IV tubes were all Shawn and Issie saw and heard when they stood outside of the NICU doors waiting on a nurse

"I wonder where he is." Said Issie clutching Shawn's hand as if she was holding on for dear life

"I don't know." Said Shawn

"May I help you?" asked a nurse wearing scrubs, gloves and a mask walked up to a speaker

"We're here to see our son, William Michael Hart." Said Shawn

"Okay. Go into that room there and wash your hands really good. Then put on gloves, a mask, and a gown over your clothes. Then come back and buzz in." said the nurse

"Okay. Thank you." Said Shawn

"I guess we'll be able to tell the rest of them when they come." Said Issie

"Yeah." Said Shawn as he scrubbed his hands "Shawn?" asked Issie

"Yeah." Said Shawn

"I need you to reassure me everything will be okay." Said Issie with tears in her eyes

"It will." Said Shawn

"I hope so." Said Issie

"Me too." Said Shawn




R&R

Chapter 71

"William is right this way." Said a nurse dressed in head to toe scrubs leading Shawn, Issie, Judy, Bill, Holly, and Father Brady to a small incubator in the corner

"Oh God, Shawn." Said Issie starting to cry as she first laid eyes on the frail infant lying motionless in the incubator

"He's so beautiful." Said Shawn as he started to cry

"I see a lot of Shawn in him." Said Judy putting her arm around Issie and taking her hand

"Yeah. He looks like you." Said Shawn

"Can I touch him?" asked Issie looking at the nurse

"Sure." Said the nurse pulling down the windows of the incubator

"Will I hurt him?" asked Issie

"No. A mother's touch is what he needs right now." Said the nurse

"Yeah." Said Issie

"Honey, why don't you have a seat." Said another nurse carrying a rocking chair

"Thank you." Said Issie sitting down

"Just stick your hand in there and stroke his arm." Said the nurse

"Okay." Said Issie as she reluctdently put her hand in

"Its okay, Honey." Said Judy

"Oh God." Said Issie crying as she stroked her arm

"You can talk to him if you want." Said the nurse

"Will, Honey, its Mama. I love you so much. I'm going to miss you." Said Issie crying

"Hey Pal, I'm your Dad. I wish I could teach you all the things my father taught me." said Shawn as he held his tiny hand

"Look, he's moving. He is responding to us." Said Issie as Will moved his arm as she stroked it

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I wish I could tell you that was a good thing, but it was just a reflex." Said the nurse

"Oh." Said Issie

"I guess we are ready for him to be christened and then given the last rites." Said Shawn as tears ran down his cheeks

"Yeah. I guess we are." Said Issie still stroking his tiny hand

"Is there anyway we can open this thing?" asked Shawn

"No. It wont be necessary Shawn. I have and can perform christening before in an incubator." Said Father Brady

"Okay." Said Shawn

"Do you have everything you need, Father?" asked Judy

"Yes. Will you all please gather around and we shall begin?" asked Father Brady

"Are you going to be okay?" asked Shawn moving to stand beside Issie and taking her hand

"Yes." Said Issie whipping her eyes and nose with the palm of her hand as she continued to stroke Will's hand

"We're ready, Father." Said Shawn rubbing her back

"William Michael Hart, I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Said Father Brady as he sprinkled water from a glass on his forehead and he showed no movement at all

"Amen." Said Issie crossing herself with one hand as she still held the tiny hand of her sons

"Shawn, Honey, do you want Father Brady to do the last rites now." Said Holly

"I don't know." Said Shawn sniffling

"We might as well." Said Issie as she looked at her tiny son laying motionless in the incubator

"Are you sure? Cause we can wait for a little bit, so you can spend more time with your son. Sweetheart, Father Brady wont mind waiting." Said Judy

"Lets just get it over with." Said Issie

"Yeah. Lets do it now, cause we are prepared for everything that might happen." Said Shawn

"Okay. Excuse me? Can my son have a chair please?" asked Bill

"Sure." Said a nurse

"Dad, I'm fine." Said Shawn

"You look like you are going to collapse. If you don't, you wont be any good for Isabelle." Said Bill

"Here you go, Sir." Said the nurse bringing over a wooden bar stool type with a wooden back on it

"Have a seat, Son." Said Bill

"Thanks Dad." Said Shawn sitting on top of it

"I think we are ready now, Father." Said Holly

"Lord have mercy on this family and on this little boy. He has done nothing wrong in the short time he has lived on this earth. This family has done nothing wrong, so grant them sorrow. If you have to take this little boy, give them as little grief as possible for they don't need to go through anymore pain." Said Father Brady as he crossed himself and prayed

"That is so true." Said Holly

"'For God who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever. John 6: 54-58'" said Father Brady reading the scripture out of the Bible

"Would you two please read the Apostle Creed." Said Father Brady handing Shawn a paper

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen." Said Shawn

"…life everlasting. Amen." Said Issie as she read it too, but slower because she was crying

"Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen." Said Father Brady

"Amen." Said Judy

"Amen." Said Issie so quietly as she was hardly heard

"This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper." Said Father Brady

"Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed." Said Shawn and Issie at the same time

"The body of Christ." Said Father Brady

"Amen." Said Shawn and Issie at the same time

"Amen." Said Holly

"May the Lord Jesus protect you and lead you to eternal life." Said Father Brady as Issie started to sob loudly and uncontrollably.

Judy stood and rubbed her back.

"We commend to you O Lord! The sol of this your servant and beseech you, O Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the world, that as in your love for him, you became man, so now you would grant to admit him into the number of the blessed. May all the Saints and Elect of God, who, on earth, suffered for the sake of Christ, intercede for him; so that, when freed from the prison of his body, he may be admitted into the kingdom of heaven: thought the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. May the blessing of God Almighty the Father, and the Son and the Holy Ghost descend upon you and remain with you always." Said Father Brady crossing himself

"Amen." Said Bill with tears rolling down his cheeks

"Lord, you are the source of eternal health for those who believe in you., May our brother, who has been refreshed with food and drink from heaven, safely reach your kingdom of light and life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." Said Father Brady making a cross on Will

"Amen." Said Issie sobbing out

"May the almighty and merciful God bless and protect us the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen." Said Father Brady crossing himself as he closed his Bible

"Amen." Said Judy as she whipped her eyes

"Look, he's squeezing my finger." Said Issie as the tiny infant had held of her finger

"Maybe that's our miracle we want." Said Shawn

"God No!" cried Issie as the sound of a long tone from a machine beside Will filled Issie's ears as she sobbed out

"No! He squeezed her finger. That was our miracle." Said Shawn crying out

"Mommy." Said Issie crying as she reached out for Judy

"Oh Baby. I'm right here. Mommy's right here." Said Judy gathering her up in her arms and rocking her gently and slowly

"My baby. He's gone." Said Issie

"I know." Said Judy

"Let it out, Son." Said Bill

"Its okay. Let it out, Sweetie. You don't have to keep it inside anymore. Everyone here is grieving." Said Holly as both her and Bill held him as he sobbed uncontrollably




R&R

I'm going out of town Sunday and not coming back till the 23rd. I'll try to post another chapter Saturday night.

CHapter 72

"And that was it. He died squeezing her finger. They both took it as a sign of him living." Said Holly as she stood in the living room the day of the funeral with Helen

"How are the kids?" asked Helen

"They are holding up really well. Shawn more then Isabelle." Said Holly

"I can imagine." Said Helen

"Bill and I had Shawn break down in the NICU. He was just looking at Isabelle breaking down in Judy's arms. We knew that if he didn't right then and there, he wasn't." said Helen

"Yeah. Where are they now?" asked Helen

"Upstairs. Getting dressed." Said Holly

"Okay." Said Helen




R&R

I apoligize for taking to long to post a new chapter. Have fun on your trip.

Chapter 73

Standing in front of a mirror in his room, Shawn looked at Issie sitting on the bed holding her pants as she was for fifteen minutes now.

Shawn stood with his shirt unbuttoned and his pants unzipped.

Issie just stared into space.

Shawn put his shirttail in his black pants and zipped them up.

He buttoned his black shirt and put his tie around his neck.

"Issie?" asked Shawn turning around and seeing her staring off into space still holding her pants.

"Oh Issie. I know this is hard for you. It is for me too." Said Shawn as he grabbed her pants, kneeled down and started to dress her.

"He's not in pain anymore. He's in Heaven now and we will see him again." Said Shawn as he stood her up to pull up her pants, knowing that she was too out of it to do it herself





R&R

Sorry about not posting. My mom has been in the hospital with knee replacment so I have been very tired.

Chapter 74

Stepping out of the limo and into the bright sun, Issie gripped her mother's hand.

Judy lead her to the graveside.

Shawn got out putting on his sunglasses, not just to block his brown eyes from the sun, but to block the tears that welled up in his eyes.

Bill and Holly walked side by side of Shawn as they escorted him to the graveside.

Gripping Judy's hand, Issie sat motionless in the chair on the front row beside Shawn as people gather around for the service.

Father Brady stood in front of the little white coffin as he waited for everyone to gather. "Psalms 46: 1-3 and 10a says 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Be still, and know that I am God!' Lord God, the one who welcomed children into his arms, we ask you to give us the strength and grace to make it through this day. Please be present here with us for we are completely dependent on you. Dear friends, we are gathered here today to say goodbye to a precious life. This is a tragedy, a tear in the very heart of God. And I want to talk with you, for just a quick moment, in this time of incredible pain and sadness, of hope. We have hope. Because Jesus Christ died before William Michael died and because God raised Jesus from the dead, we have hope that William Michael will be raised in the same way Jesus was. Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though they die.' John 11:25 We have hope. Isaiah 65:17 and 20 says 'For I am about to create a new heavens and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime. This passage tells us that in the new creation, God will make everything new. No longer will there be a time when children die or only live a few hours. God will one day take away the things that cause pain. We have hope because when God raises those who are now dead, in the same way Jesus was raised from the dead, all things will be created new. We have hope. We also have hope because we know William Michael is held in the arms of God, right now. We have hope because we know God will hold and keep William Michael until the resurrection of the dead. William Michael is held in the arms of God, right now. We have hope. Lord God, we ask you to give us the grace to entrust this child, William Michael to your never-failing care and love. Into your hands, dear Lord, we commend William Michael. Receive him into your arms of mercy. And may his parents and all who are gathered here find comfort in the knowledge and hope that William Michael is in your arms, right now. In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commit the body of this child to the grave. And as Jesus, during his earthly life, took the children into His arms and blessed them, may you, Jesus Christ, receive this dear one unto yourself. For as Jesus said, 'The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' Matthew 19:14 Heavenly Father, God of all mercy, we look to you in this time of deep sorrow. We are confident that you, God, the giver of life, will raise William Michael to perfection in the same way you raised Jesus Christ from the dead. We are also confident that you, God, are holding William Michael even now. Comfort those who are gathered here with sad and heavy hearts. Sustain them, be with them, and guide them in the days to come. Grant that they might love and serve you. And dear Lord, deal graciously with Shawn and Issabelle in their grief. Surround them with your love that they might not be overwhelmed with their loss but be confident in your goodness and faithfulness. Amen." Said Father Brady

"Amen." Said Issie as she sobbed uncontrolabily on Judy's shoulder

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant, brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you, comfort you, and be ever present with you." Said Father Brady

"Amen." Said Shawn as he whipped his eyes





R&R

Its okay. I understand. I just bump it when it got lower on the screen.

My mother is doing really good with her recoperating. How is your mother?

I'll try to post another chapter either tonight or tomorrow.