I know that I’ve been changed by the short life of my precious little angel, Jody Michael Terian. This past Sunday, as we celebrated Jody Michael’s one month anniversary of arriving in heaven, I took time to reflect. It was Mother’s Day and, as I thanked God for our beautiful children and grand-children, I especially thanked God for Jody Michael. For several months, as we prayed for a miracle and for strength, I have been so greatly affected by so many “Jody miracles & happenings”.
So many people let us know that they were praying for our family and I know that this helped us to carry on and to have moments of peace. We have been told that people have been able to reconsider where they were in life and be open to God’s plan for them because of Jody’s story. As we shared Jody Michael’s life, we have seen hearts soften and people reach out. Family and friends are making decisions to be involved in ministries and opportunities where they would support families who have experienced the death of a child. We will never know how far reaching the effects of the Jody Michael story will be, but God will know and will smile. Dad & I picked up information and hope to volunteer some way at Mercy Gilbert – it will be our privilege to help at this wonderful place.
On Good Friday, April 10th we experienced a day with extreme happiness and also extreme sadness; a day that will forever be etched in my heart. It was beautiful to experience our family, Carla’s sister Katie, and Carla & Joe’s friends being together in the waiting room at Mercy Gilbert hospital. It was full of aunts, uncles, cousins, Gramma, Grampa and God Parents. There was sharing of snacks & sharing of thoughts and prayers for a safe delivery for Carla and a few minutes of life with Jody Michael.
The wonderful Chaplain, assisted Joe as he baptized his precious son. I can’t begin to tell you how this has affected me. I am brought to tears whenever I relive this beautiful moment in my mind. The Chaplain was the one who signaled for me to bring in big sister, the first of the family to see Jody Michael. Jenny was so thrilled to see him! I was there to see the look of sheer joy on the faces of Carla & Joe as Joe exclaimed “He is Alive!” As they were shedding tears of joy, Carla & Joe were joined with tears by me, wonderful Dr. Julie Adams and nurses Jen & Pam.
Next to see Jody Michael was big brother Joey. Again, the picture of this moment will be with me forever. Then, all the aunts, uncles, cousins, Grampa and God Parents came in. Through all of this, Angelina Dominguez had been there capturing pictures for many hours. We are truly blessed by having this fine young woman come into our lives. As a photographer with the group Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, she volunteered and gave so much of herself to our family. Her wonderful husband Manny was with us also. Angelina had gotten pictures of Carla, Joe and the children weeks before Jody Michael’s birth. She took so very many pictures of our precious Jody Michael with the family on the day of his birth, and after he got his wings and went to heaven. She did an amazing job and is a most talented photographer. Angelina did all of this at no charge – what a gift. Later she did a beautiful video which was used at Jody Michael’s Mass of the Angels, along with 2 large pictures that were displayed. I think it’s a Jody miracle that we found Angelina and God’s hand was surely in all of this.
Jody Michael has wonderful God Parents in Brian & Janice Baca. Their loving presence and support for Carla & Joe is a gift from God. They are a beautiful example of what true friends are all about and again, we’re blessed to know them. They stayed till the wee hours of the morning to be with Carla, Joe and Jody Michael. The loving nurses, Pam & Jen and Dr. Julie Adams were just so amazing. Mercy Gilbert Hospital and these beautiful people have greatly affected me.
Nurses who came in early to be with Carla for delivery, and stayed long after their shift ended are true examples of love and dedication. Nurse Jen helped to capture Jody Michael’s little hand & foot molds. It was so touching to see the 36 beautiful long-stemmed red roses, one for each week that Carla carried Jody Michael, presented to Mommy & Daddy from all the nurses in the labor & delivery area. Nurse Dana, who wasn’t even their nurse, promised to hold little Jody Michael when Carla & Joe had to finally leave the hospital. We later found out that Nurse Dana held Jody Michael for several hours, until he was released for his autopsy. Nurse Laura gave so much of herself as the day nurse and just made Carla & Joe feel loved and supported.
As Jody Michael was held by all of his cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, God Parents and friends, Jody’s Aunt Sue shared how very unselfish Carla & Joe were to allow their special little angel to be held by all present. They gave us a special gift by letting us hold, caress, kiss and love our precious one. In our prayers, we asked God for just a few minutes with Jody and we were granted one hour. Carla & Joe – you are truly examples of a loving, caring couple who gave us all the joy of loving Jody Michael.
To see our sweet Jenny and Joey hold and kiss their precious little brother was so wonderful. It surely was a time of many emotions – from heart-warming and blessed to heart-wrenching and sad. It was hard for Dad & I to leave Carla, Joe and Jody Michael in the early hours of Saturday morning. After the impressions of his little hands & feet were made by Brain & Janice, with the help of Nurse Jen, we reluctantly left.
Thank you, Carla & Joe, for asking us to come back the next day to hold our little angel one more time. As I held Jody Michael, it was just so natural to rock and caress him. He was just so perfect and looked like a little sleeping angel.
You both are such loving, wonderful parents and I am so proud of you. Carla is an amazing young woman with wisdom beyond her years. I am blessed to call her my sweet daughter-in-law. My beloved son Joe is a loving, wonderful father and when I see your father’s ways in you, my heart is warmed. You have a good example of a loving father and husband from Dad. It just broke my heart to see my dear son rock his precious little one.
Jody Michael’s Mass of the Angels was most beautiful. Aren’t we just so blessed to have been surrounded by so many family and friends? We thank God for all of them in our lives. So, dear ones, know that you are in our constant prayers, as are all of our beautiful family. We have our precious angel and shining star in heaven, so we’ve been blessed already. I love you, Jody Michael.
Love, Gramma Terian
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