There are no words in these times.
A mother should NEVER have to endure such torture.
We cannot imagine it. We weep at the thought.
And we pray. We pray that God will give Heather strength and peace that transcends understanding, because there is no understanding in this.
If you have not yet heard this tragic news, Heather from The Spohrs Are Multiplying lost her precious little girl Maddie on Tuesday night, April 7th. It was sudden and shocking. Heather had been tweeting from the hospital up until doctors intubated Maddie. A few hours later, Heather’s friend Meghan updated Heather’s blog to share the heart wrenching news that Maddie passed away.
“Heather and Mike have asked that you please don’t send flowers. You can contribute to the March of Dimes in memory of Madeline Alice Spohr.”
Please send your love and prayers to Heather in a comment on her blog and then please consider contributing to the March of Dimes. As Maddie was born premature, the March of Dimes is an important organization for Heather’s family and as helpless as well all feel, we can show our love through our donations to a cause that is so important to them.
Heather, we are so sorry… so desperately sorry. We’re sending you our thoughts, our love and our prayers.
UPDATE:
It appears that Heather’s blog was taken down because of the huge amount of traffic. BUT it has been moved to a dedicated server and should be up again soon.
The blogosphere and the loving peeps on Twitter have been showing their love for Maddie and Heather on the March of Dimes site. Maddie’s donations have gone from just over $3,000 when I published this post last night to currently almost $13,000!!!
Of course, our donations can never ease Heather’s pain, but it is a tangible way for us to all show our love and help more precious babies and their families.
After you make your donation, there is a text field for you to leave a message for Heather and it shows here on her Sponsor Message Wall.
Add Your Post Honoring Maddie
Heather’s good friend Meghan has a Mr. Linky on her blog where you can add your posts honoring Maddie. There are over 100 links and the love continues to flow.
I am just hearing about this news and wanted to send my thoughts and prayers to Maddie’s family. Premature births run in my family. Two nieces born 12 weeks early and my twin brother and sister were also born 12 weeks early. It is devastating to just know there are odds of a child not surviving, and unthinkably worse when it actually happens. My heart goes out to family and friends.
it is such a sad story! I saw this on Wednesday and left a comment, apparently before the site went down. What a shame.
Susan,
Thanks for telling us, we will be praying for Maddie’s family. Although it is hard to imagine losing a child, saying that it “should never happen” isn’t quite the way we should see it. God never promised us there would be no suffering in our lives. But he does promise us relief when we call on Him!
We have our children for a little while here on earth, but take great comfort knowing where they will be when He takes them up to Himself.
God bless Maddie’s family with healing, and strength to carry on!
Maddie’s sweet smile & story will haunt us for a long, long while. To me, it’s absolute beautiful testimony to the power of the blogosphere to see so many responding with generosity of words and finances.
It still hurts, though :(.
heartbreaking.
praying.
Wow, I didn’t know Heather or Maddie but I am full of tears. I just read her tweets and oh my goodness. I am so sadden by hearing that a mom lost her baby and so suddenly. sending prayers from Hawaii.
Sarah
I am so sorry for their loss. How terrible! Heather and her family are in my prayers.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m so sorry for their loss. My heartfelt prayers go out to Maddie’s family.
My heart is broken for this family.
I came right over here to see what happened when I saw the Tweets. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of little Maddie – how so very sad. It puts a lot of things in perspective for me today. My thoughts and prayers are with Heather. I can’t imagine the heartache. God bless her and her family.
That is so sad. I am so sorry for Heather and her family. I do donate to the March of Dimes any chance I get. They are a close charity to myself, even though I have not been personally touched by situations such as Maddie’s I do feel for families and children.
Sending warm wishes and big hugs to Heather and her family!
I do not know them but my heart goes out to any family that suffers a loss of a child.
The links all say their site has been suspended.
I’m so sorry for their loss. 🙁 My heart breaks for them. They will all be in my prayers.
i pray for peace for this family. i can’t even imagine.
I too cannot get through to the blog, it says account has been suspended, so I’m going to send a message here.
Heather …
I am not even sure what to say. You have my deepest deepest sympathy. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. I am so very sorry for your loss.
Rachel Tramontana
My heart is with this family. I will be praying for their strength and peace.
I don’t know them, but this has hit me hard today. A friend recently had twins come very early and lost both of them within a matter of weeks. I can only imagine the depth of their heartbreak and pray for peace and comfort as they go forward.
Thank you so much for sharing this tragic news. My heart is with the family.
No one should have to deal with this kind of pain. Thank you for sharing this, they will be in my prayers.
Their blog is down right now, but many many prayers are being said for this family right now. Even in the midst of their devastation we pray for peace and blessings!
Shera
There is nothing that can be said at a time like this to help ease a mother’s pain; but, nonetheless, I want her to know that she is in my thoughts and prayers.
Heather and Mike, there are simply no words to express our deepest sympathies in the loss of your sweet little Maddie.
I, too, have lost a child, and so can empathize with the heartache you are suffering through at this time.
The gamut of emotions one feels during this trial has no boundaries, no answers, and is incomprehensible to those who have not suffered this senseless devastation.
Just know that she is safe in the arms of God, now.
She is your angel, now.
Maddie is smiling as she sees you both from Heaven, and she knows the incredible love you will always have for her.
She will always be your little Maddie.
Our prayers are with you all,
Angela
This is devastating. I’m still reeling from the news. Such a beautiful sweet little girl who died way too young.
I too tried to get to her site and it says her account has been suspended. Heather, our prayers are with you and your family. Madeline was so precious!
I would like to go to Heather’s site and leave my condolences but when I click on the links, it says the link appears to be broken.
Anyway,
Heather,
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, and in my heart. I cannot imagine what you are going through so I am not going to pretend to understand. I feel deeply for you and wish you and your family my deepest sympathy. Take care of each other.
When I read your words, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. It’s so horribly wrong.
I can’t get thru on the blog link… but I want to let Heather know that I am praying for her and her family… May our good Lord in Heaven just wrap His loving arms around her and keep her close in her time of grief…. Hold tight to the memories… and treasure, yes, TREASURE the time you had together… my heart, my love goes out to you!!!!!!
I just heard the news on twitter, too. I wasn’t familiar with their family but was crying this morning anyway. And praying. Of course.
Oh my gosh, I’ve got goosebumps. My prayers are with this family. What a sweet little angel in heaven.
What a beautiful little gal. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain they are feeling right now. Many cyber-hugs and prayers for strength and comfort for their whole family.
******HUGGGGS******
My prayers are with the family.
How awful! I couldn’t imagine losing a child. My thoughts and prayers are with that little’s one’s family.