Rachel Grace Lee arrived at 9:58AM on April 4 , 2006 weighing 467 grams (1.03 lbs) and went to heaven in mommy and daddy's arms at 11:40AM April 4, 2006 to be in the Lord's loving embrace.
Despite physical challenges caused by the lack of amniotic fluid these past five weeks, Rachel Grace was beautiful. She had her grandmother Sung's face and her mommy's long slender legs and delicate hands and feet.We are profoundly heartbroken but were blessed and fortunate enough to touch her, hold her hands and feet and tell her that we love her. As she went to Jesus, we kissed and nuzzled her.
To our dear precious baby girl, Rachel, we love you more than words can ever express. You are the bravest, sweetest little princess your mommy and daddy have ever set eyes upon. Your suffering these past five weeks have given your brother, Isaac, a chance to stay with mommy and daddy for a while. So many people love you and you know how many people's lives you have touched. I'm sure you can hear their prayers from heaven, sweetie. Our aching hearts miss you so much already but we find comfort in the knowledge that you are so much happier now. We will never forget you, you will always be our darling little Rachel.
Isaac is currently fighting for his life. Being born at 23 weeks gestational age, things are touch and go and so many things can and usually do go wrong so please continue to lift him up in prayer. We will post detailed prayer requests later.
Sonia is recovering at Toho University Hospital. Unfortunately, it is a large public hospital and she is in a cattle room so she can't take or make calls or use her computer yet. She can receive emails to her cell phone (soniachanlee@ezweb.ne.jp). Please continue praying her speedy recovery as well.
As we wish to take Rachel home with us, we will arrange to keep her ashes but will wait until my mother arrives before we move forward. We are trying to plan a short memorial service for rachel when sonia is discharged and can attend.
As the reality of yesterday's events sinks in, our well of tears is full. We are truly grateful that He gave us this extra time with Rachel and that by His grace Sonia's pregnancy lasted long enough to give Isaac a chance. Our love for each other and the Lord has grown immeasurably as a result of this journey.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love and continued prayers. Sonia and I would also like to thank our Pastors Dennis and Joel and our church's administrator, Shizuka, for coming to the hospital and being there for us yesterday. Please forgive the late posting, I couldn't get myself to write it last night.
God bless you.
Jong
P.S. For those of you not from Hong Kong, April 4 is Children's Day.
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31 comments:
Praying for all of you. Your beautiful Rachel has touced so many hearts.
You have so many people around the world mourning with you and for you. We are holding you dear in our hearts and prayers. Your darling Rachel will be celebrated in heaven and missed here on earth, even by those of us who do not know you personally. May God grant you continued courage and faith in the upcoming days, and know you are not alone.
You and your family are in my prayers. I can't even imagine the pain you must feel. I have been following your story on your blog and at HP. I will continue to pray for your sweet Isaac.
Jong and Sonia, rejoicing with you in the two precious hours Rachel shared with you outside the womb and for her gift to Isaac as he fights on. Words cannot begin to express my deep sorrow with you in Rachel's earthly death or my concern for Isaac and Sonja both physically and for the two of you, Jong and Sonja as your hearts process such grief. Please know you are being upheld before our Father with loving prayer.
I have tears streaming down my face and I don't even know what to write really
I am rejoicing that you had two hours with Rachel, that she hung on for every day of those 5 weeks so that Isaac had a chance. And I am heartbroken that she went to heaven so soon. I am praying for Isaac, that he stays strong, that he fights infection, that his lungs start working, taht he doesn't experience any brain bleeds, for wisdom and technical brilliance for the drs and nurses caring for him.
And I'm praying for Sonia. Hoping and praying that when you describe her room you don't mean she is with other mums who have just delivered healthy full term babies. And if she is praying that God will protect her heart from the pain this must surely cause her.
And Jong, praying for you as your grieve the loss of your precious daughter and hope and pray that Isaac will live.
Praying for Sonia's Mum and your mum on her way and for all of yoru extended families.
How I wish there were words, how I wish I knew what to say.
In the absence of being able to do anything else I am on my knees before our Father, thanking him that Rachel is safe with him and will never be the other side of grace, and praying that Isaac will grow strong and healthy and be able to go home with you and Sonia later in the year.
Thank you for updating us.
Love Rae
Sonia and Jong,
Holding you both in prayer as you grieve the loss of your precious Rachel. What a wonderful sister she was to her brother. I thank God for the time you had with her. I can imagine her holding Jesus hand in heaven right now.
I will continue to hold Issac in prayers. God bless you both during this difficult time.
Love,
Suzanne
Sonia and Jong,
Holding you both in prayer as you grieve the loss of your precious Rachel. What a wonderful sister she was to her brother. I thank God for the time you had with her. I can imagine her holding Jesus hand in heaven right now.
I will continue to hold Issac in prayers. God bless you both during this difficult time.
Love,
Suzanne
Crying tears of joy and extreme sadness. I am on my knees thanking him for the precious moments that you had with little Rachel. I am begging God to breath strength into your precious Isaac. May your hearts be held by HIM during this time.
Julie (jooley HP)
jong and sonja, may God hold Rachel Grace in his arms, she was so strong and He loves you all so much, but i know that doesn't take away the hurt. i will continue to think about you and pray for all of you including brave little Isaac. you have been in my thoughts constantly and will continue to be.. xxxoo lynn
Praying for you all. You will see your beautiful and brave Rachel someday. What a trooper she was! Praising God for the precious time you had with her and that she knew she was loved on this earth.
Praying for your precious Isaac. As the mom of a preemie (25 weeker I know that actually seems big to you right now)your struggle is close to my heart. May God uphold him by His right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Blessings,
Adriana
There are times in life when there simply are no words. I have been checking all throughout the day for this posting and my tears just poured for you when I read that precious Rachel went home. And like Adriana said, your struggle is close to my heart as well for the same reason (mommy of a former 25 weeker). Carrying you to Jesus on my knees.
Love Doni
I am also praying for Isaac and Sonia. As Rachel came a saint and she is also praying for Isaac.
I will pray every morning and nights for you.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. My heartfelt sympathies on the loss of your darling Rachel what beautiful toes she has!!
I shal continue to pray for Isaac to become stronger each day.
My love and my prayers go out to you three!!
there are no words right now...just a heavy heart for you...but a grateful one all the same. grateful for isaac's life, and grateful for those few precious hours you had with your beautiful daughter. her hands and feet are amazing. never to be forgotten. to look at your little lamb and see the greatness of our Lord...thank you for sharing your hearts and the lives of your children with us. we will continue to uphold you and surround you in prayer...especially isaac during this time. praying for complete healing and the amazing hand of our God to prevail in all of His perfect power.
"Let the little children come unto me. Do not hinder them, for such is the kingdom of heaven."
erin eccles
My heart is so heavy.... blessings on you and your family... and I'm praying for Isaac.... Oh, I am praying he will grow strong and healthy
JessClark (HP)
I don't know what else to say but that I am praying for you.
Sara (HP)
I am praying for little isaac, and so proud of little rachel for hanging in there as long as she was able, and holding on to your love for 2 hours after she was born! She is an angel looking over you now.
Catherine
There are no words...., I have been trying to find words to tell you how very sorry we are to hear of your loss of your sweet Rachel. We continue to pray for your little Isaac and for a supernatural peace and strength that can only come from a loving God. Our twins, Nathan and Anna,were born at 23 weeks. Our children were amazing and incredible gifts from God and we are thankful to have held them for the 23 weeks we had them. We feel we experienced a lifetime of love in those 23 weeks. Our babies' story is so similar to yours, that I have a diffifult time posting, my tears are flowing, but I pray with all of my heart for strength for your little Isaac. Grieving with you and as Doni said above, we are carrying you to Jesus on our knees. (I was "led" to your site through a prayer request on Doni Brinkmans's site) Praying our God with sustain you through this sorrowful time.
Know that you are not alone. I too had twins at 23 weeks. One died, the other survived and is doing fantastic! He is five and a half years old. Goes to kindergarten!
I will be praying for you.
Kim
God bless you and your family in this challenging time. Your story (in MN, USA) is crossing the world...God works in miraculous ways!
take care~
Praying without ceasing.
Another 23-weeker mom from a preemie board I'm on sent your news and blog link. I am so sorry for your loss of precious Rachel - what a fighter! I'll pray for Issac and you all, too.
I'm the mom to a 6 yr old 22.4 weeker, Kellie, born at 527 gms (1 lb 2.6 oz) and 29 cm (11.5 in). If you'd like some encouragement and are up to reading about her, please visit her site at http://fourcrooks.home.att.net (it really needs an update).
Many blessings to you all and I'll keep watching your blog!
Julie C.
Illinois, USA
Just wanting you both to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I have twin boys who were born at 24.6 weeks and are now 19 months old. They had a long struggle before they came home, but are now happy and active. I hope and pray that Isaac gets a little stronger each day and is home with you as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Lisa
(Australia)
PS - please feel free to contact me if there is anything I can do at kevreid@optusnet.com.au
As a woman who has no children as of yet, I can only imagine what you are going thru. My heart and prayers are with you. God be with you all always.
Lifting you and you family up in our Prayer to God, for Lil Sameul to do well and your Peace for lil Rachel.
MAy God be with you as your Lil Angel Rachel watches over you all each and every day as she will forever live on in you heart each and everyday.
May God Love and Peace be with you
April Mommy to "Angel" Mikayla, Mimmie, Hunter, Noah and Zach
http://www.geocities.com/angelmomfriends5/kayla1.html
http://www.caringbridge.org/tn/kayla
http://www.caringbridge.org/tn/mimmie
Praising God for Rachel's short but very important life. She was a very brave & strong girl to be there for her brother as she did. What a loving sister. Praising God that you got to hold Rachel close & breathe in her sweet smell as she went to be with our Lord & Savior! PRaying for baby Issac. PRaying for strength & the Holy Spirit to sustain him during this time & Rachel to pass on some of her fighting spirit to her brother. Praising God & mourning with you during this time.
Love your HP sister,
Kelley
Maryland,USA)
I am so sorry for the loss of your precious Rachel. I will be praying for Isaac and for your family.
I have no words....I just do not know what to say. I have been praying every moment of the day for you and your family. I am so deeply saddened by the loss of Rachel. I am praying with faith that her death was not in vain, and that little Isaac will one day be a completely healthy little boy.
Love in Christ,
Kristina Whitley
kpwhitley@hotmail.com
My hearts and prayers are with you all. Miss Rachel Grace is a hero in everyone's eyes... My she watch over you and her little brother Isaac....
Hugs...Amy
My thoughts, heart and prayers are with all of you.
Long distance hugs.
Beth
Just one more long distance "friend" to tell you that I am praying with you and my heart grieves with yours. May the presence of the Lord comfort and heal and restore your hearts and keep little Isaac in His perfect peace too.
My son was born April 4, 2003. I'll be thinking of your family on his birthdays. :)
Heidi Jo
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