OUR STORY
On July 19, 2005, I went for my weekly check-up as my due date was approaching soon. I had an uneventful, healthy pregnancy and was gladly anticipating the arrival of our first baby before the end of the month. As the nurse listened for a heartbeat – there was none there to be found. Further ultrasounds confirmed the news. Our baby had died. That’s when all my hopes and dreams were void. I had never known such deep pain and sorrow.
“Our baby had died. That’s when all my hopes and dreams were void.”
I was induced later that afternoon. There was no happy, joyful delivery to look forward to. After 18 hours of labor, the doctor placed my beautiful daughter’s lifeless body in my arms at 11:56 a.m. on July 20, 2005. She was 7lbs, 3oz and 21 inches long. We named our daughter Peace, a reminder of the peace that God has to offer through the trials in our lives; a peace that passes all understanding.
While I was in labor with our daughter, a wonderful woman stopped by my delivery room with a bear for us. She had lost her baby in 2002 and was given a bear which she then in turn gave to me. I didn’t think much of the bear at that time, but after we delivered our daughter, I really had time to look over the bear, and realize exactly what this woman had done for me. For when we were going through this, we were overcome with loneliness. We didn’t know anyone that this had ever happened to. This was not supposed to happen, especially this far into the pregnancy and a healthy pregnancy at that. The bear we were given was a reminder that we were not alone. Others had dealt with losing a baby in the same way and survived. There were others who understood our pain. Not only were we comforted by the fact that others had gone through this, but we were reminded that God was our comforter, our peace, our strength, and would one day be our source of hope.
There was something so comforting in having something to hold, even though it didn’t replace our baby. My arms literally ached for my baby to hold. Leaving the safety of our hospital room, we could hear other newborn babies cry from the nursery, we could hear the joyous expressions from other families in the birthing center. Entering the “real” world, where nobody knew our pain or suffering. What was supposed to be the happiest most joyful time in our lives, was cluttered with funeral plans, and extreme emptiness; empty carseat, empty nursery, empty cradle. I really longed to do something in memory of our baby. A way to justify my motherhood. A way to take care of our baby that is no longer with us. A way to make her life count. The bear given to us has led to our ministry, The Peace Bear Project, so that ALL mothers who leave the hospital with empty arms will be given a bear. The Peace Bears have become our baby’s legacy. She was our little messenger of peace and I want to share that peace with others.
Cyle & Patty Young
A colleague’s daughter received a bear at the loss of her son. Our office would like to make a donation in the name of the family & baby. I don’t see anything in the donation area to make a contribution that way. We want the family to know that we have made the donations. Some people will be doing individual donations & others will be doing it in a group. Can you tell us how we can accomplish this. Thanks.
Cyle and Patty. I want to tell you how much the Peace Bear has meant to our family.
On December 29th, our daughter and her husband learned the same sad news you received. They were three days from their due date. They had a healthy and happy pregnancy.
They delivered our beautiful granddaughter on December 30th. She was perfect in every way.
Our Peace Bear will join our family for every event. There will not be a family picture where she isn’t with us. She comes home with our daughter every trip and is a great comfort to them. Our Peace Bear wears the head band they put on the baby as we all met, held and loved on our precious angel.
Your thoughtfulness in sharing this with others, is a wonderful comfort. We pray for all the babies and hope all parents are lucky enough to receive the bear as our daughter and son-in-law did.
We came to realize there are so many that go through this each year. Knowing that you can help to comfort others during the worst imaginable time has to be a great privilege. Every time we see the Peace Bear, we think of our granddaughter, as well as, your daughter, Peace.
Thank you for your kindness and sharing your daughter with us.
Dear Patty and Cyle:
I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your precious perfect daughter Peace.
Jesus holds our little ones in his arms, their angels are in front of His face and He does in His time bring peace to our hearts especially as we reach out to others to help them through the valley of the shadow of death. Our little ones gone to be with Jesus before us, will forever remain perfect in His eyes and ours. They are blessed to have never had sinned and our truly the innocents that we are promised in Mark 19:14 “of such is the kingdom of heaven”, and Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
I met Cyle at the Philly conference and I have expereiences a story of loss and ministry as well.
I am praying that someday in the near future I will be able to work with Cyle to further the ministry the Lord has given me to reach out to children, parents, nurses, doctors to validate the loss and celebrate the gift of life of God’s Little Ones.
Peaceful hugs to you and your blessed family.