Gianna Caeli’s Story

Site created on October 16, 2010

Celebrate the life of our daughter and sister, Gianna Caeli, who was diagnosed 10/15/2010 with Trisomy 18.
She was born at home 12/22 and lived 14 wonderful days, departing this life for Eternity on 1/5/11.  
We honor the gift she is to us and to the world.
Gianna (jee-AHN-uh) "God's grace"   
Caeli (CHAY-lee or KAY-lee) "(from) Heaven"



Trisomy 18 is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis, and certainly not a prognosis. It shouldn’t automatically be considered a condition which is incompatible with life!!

Gianna was conceived in March 2010, and is our 12th child.  She is sister to four siblings who've gone Home early to God: Kelly (m/c 1996), Loren Joseph (stillborn 35 weeks, anencephaly, 1999), Tess Elena (m/c 2002), Fiona Maeve (m/c 2010) and has seven living siblings here on earth: Ean, Erin, Kate, Claire, Aidan, Jack, and Joseph.

We announced Gianna's conception to our children out at the Hendry Farm on Easter Sunday - how appropriate to announce new life on THE DAY of NEW LIFE - by placing a poem in an Easter egg, which, when opened, shared the good news.  The children were ecstatic!

AM had a sense from very early on that something was amiss with the baby, but kept quiet about her intuition for months. 

On 10/1, at her regular midwife appointment, some measurements were off, so she requested a fetal survey ultrasound, done locally 10/5.  The scan showed three areas of concern (two vessel umbilical cord, enlarged area of the brain, and excess amniotic fluid) any one of which occurring in isolation wouldn't be a concern, but together pointed at something more serious. 

AM googled incessantly and discovered Trisomy 18.  She hoped against hope that baby didn't have it, but wasn't surprised on 10/14, when visiting Swedish Perinatal Medicine, that the scan and amniocentesis confirmed the suspicion. 

That was the day Gianna Caeli received her name. 

Leaving Swedish, we made plans for a death instead of a birth, but were subsequently exceedingly surprised to learn that children with Trisomy 18 can and do live, some for years.  It is our prayerful hope that Gianna will live outside AM for as long as God wills it...and for the Grace needed to accept whatEVER may be His will.

We are grateful for the chance to parent Gianna (and all her siblings) and feel so thankful God has sent her to us.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Ann Marie Henninger

Darling Girl,

Ten years ago, I held you in my arms as you took your last breath. What an agony it was to lose you, to say farewell, to try and pick up the pieces of my broken heart and move forward without you.  As Mother Mary had her own heart pierced at the death of Jesus, so, too, was my own heart pierced at your death. 

I rest in the knowledge that you are secure with Jesus, that you are interceding for your brothers, sisters, and parents, that one day we will be reunited for Eternity - and oh, what a reunion that will be. 

G, when I sit in the quiet and reflect, I can still feel the weight of you in my arms and recollect the weightlessness of my arms after you died. Those of two of my most vivid memories...holding you safe and secure and then your absence and the ache of empty arms, along with a shattered heart. 

You are gone, darling baby, but never forgotten. You live on in our hearts, memories, and in the ways you continue to impact our lives and loves.

As we mark ten years since your death day, I feel a profound sense of gratitude in being a mother; being your mother; being a mother to Ean, Erin, Kelly, Kate, Loren, Claire, Tess, Aidan, Jack, Joseph, Fiona, Sara, and Henry. I am so imperfect in that role but trust and know God and Our Blessed Mother help to fill in my many gaps and repair my countless mistakes. 

Your life and death taught me much, Gianna, and I pray to learn the lessons well. 

Forever yours, 

Mom

Pray for us!

 

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