Three years ago today........

….my daughter was relieved from her suffering. Isabella was born with congenital hypotonia, which later would be diagnosed as an undiagnosed congenital myopathy (a disease of the muscles). Very similar to Muscular Dystrophy, she had very limited to no use of her limbs, could not effectively swallow, so she had to be fed through a G-tube, and could not take deep breaths therefore required to be on oxygen at all times.

Born on May 5th 2007, Isabella stayed in the NICU for 2 months before my wife and I were able to bring her home. The Doctors gave us the grave diagnosis that she would not make it to her 1st birthday and that the common cold would be a threat to her life. My wife and I were up for the challenge, as we learned to care for our only child. We were allowed to receive 40 hours a week of nurse care through sources that we contacted, but there was no way we were going to let someone else care for our child.

Isabella needed round the clock care and required breathing treatments, physical therapy, frequent suctioning of her secretions, and G-tube feedings. She had to be connected to a monitor which would tell us the saturation levels of her oxygen, and an alarm would sound off to let us know if it should fall below acceptable levels. This happened daily, sometimes she would turn blue as she would stop breathing altogether by choking on her own saliva. Let me tell you, the sound of that damn alarm still haunts me in my sleep.

After about two months, Isabella caught the common cold, and we were able to nurse her through it, but it did weaken her. Through all this she was still developing. We could get her to smile often, which would inspire us to keep going. At one point, I even got her to laugh, which was something we were told she would not be able to do, as her diaphragm muscles were too weak to even produce a cough.

Isabella was with us for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, which I will always remember as the best three holidays of my life. No others will ever come close to compare.

On January 10th 2008, Isabella fell ill. We had no idea what we were in for. In the middle of the night, I was awoken by my wife screaming my name telling me to call 911. Isabella was struggling to breathe. We were able to stabilize her, but we knew we needed to take her in. She suffered so badly that night and it absolutely destroys me to this day. When the doctors told us she had pneumonia and wanted to connect her to a ventilator, we knew what had to be done. We knew there was no way she would ever come off the ventilator and that her quality of life was all but over. My wife and I agreed that it was time to just make Isabella comfortable and let her pass peacefully. On the morning of January 11th 2008, Isabella took her final breathe in her mother’s arms.

Thank you for taking the time to read her story.

Beautiful story, Joe. I'm so sorry for your loss, but she no longer suffers and she is at peace. I admire a man that can go through that and be man enough to tell her story.

Thank you for sharing, it is heartbreaking and I do not know what to say to a loss that is unimaginable to me, thank you again for telling us Isabelle's story.

Very,very sad.I have tears in my eyes. A truly heartbreaking story but thank you for sharing it. My deepest condolences.

Tears here too. You and your wife are strong people Joe. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for sharing this. My condolences for your loss.

Sad, very sad........... Condolences.

My deepest condolences! A heartbreaking read. Thanks for shareing your story on this dark day.

I could never begin to unerstand a loss that deep. Deepest condolences to you and you're wife. At least her suffering was ended.

Joe, your story brought tears to my eyes. I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing.

That is a truly heartbreaking story and I am sorry for your loss. My nephew has very severe cerebral palsy and spent months in the NICU before he could come home. He wieghed barely a pound at birth and was delivered by emergency C-section 11 weeks early. He's done lots of things the doctors said he would never do but will probably need care at some level his whole life. My sister sounds like a doctor herself because she does as much of his care as she can without help.

RIP Isabella, I can tell you were a great gift to your parents.

My thoughts are with you Joe.

that sucks, sorry to hear

Very sad to hear Joe. Sorry for your loss.

I am sorry Joe - very sad

Thanks for sharing, no words can describe such a loss. I have 2 girls of my own, you made this fat dude cry!!

My condolences.

So sorry to hear. My deepest condolences.

Big love and great juju to you and the spouse, joe.

Sorry for your loss Joe.That is such a heartbreaking story.With children of my own that kinda stuff hits me where I live.God bless ya bro.

Dude, I feel like cryin' after reading this......Joe, you and your wife are incredibly brave.

Thanks for expressing the love you had for your child. Many kids who are not terminaly ill or sick for that matter, never experience love in that capacity. Your daughter was blessed and I am blessed from reading about it.

I'm sorry for your loss... it's heartbreaking.

As a 24 year old I can never even fathom what that feels like. I am very sorry for your loss and my heart nearly broke in two after reading that story.