Journal entry by Ariella Degner —
Just over a year ago, I did not imagine my life with three kids. Two kids was plenty. More than plenty. Of course, life rarely goes exactly as we plan. And not long after swearing off any further fertility treatment (which we relied on to conceive Noah and Milli) and burning our crib, we learned that life was veering in a much different direction than we planned.
So, today, our tough little red-haired warrior is ONE. It’s hard to put into words how this past year has been; scary, chaotic, and seemingly impossible at times. And also miraculous, inspiring, and beautiful. The first anniversary of the most traumatic day of our lives has brought up a mix of emotions. But mostly I feel grateful. Grateful for modern medicine and medical professionals who quite literally brought Aurora back to life. Grateful for friends, family, and colleagues who cooked us meals, took care of Milli and Noah, and checked in (and still check in) with us frequently. Grateful for the NICU team who took care of not only Aurora, but our entire family during her 64-day stay. Grateful for the mental health team that has continued to help me through…so many challenges. And finally, grateful for Scott who is there to help me stay grounded and co-parent three crazy kids.
Happy birthday, sweet Aurora, and thank you to all of you who have carried us through the past year.
Love,
Scott, Ariella, Noah, Milli, and Aurora
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