A tragedy

The Allens, a sweet senior missionary couple who work in the National Archives of Montreal had a tragedy in their lives on Monday the 19th. They were awakened early in the morning by a phone call from their youngest daughter.  Amber had gone into labor the night with her third child.  Her first son was born by c-section.  The second little boy was born by a natural, vaginal birth.  This little baby, a girl, was full term when Amber went into labor.  The labor seemed to progress well and the head was out.  Then the head was stuck and the doctor couldn't get the baby out.  He proceeded to push the head back in and then did an emergency c-section.  He got Amber opened up in about 2 minutes, but what met his eyes was a burst uterus with the baby, the placenta, blood, etc all spilled out into the abdominal cavity. They got the baby out, but by then there was extensive brain damage.  There was no hope. Beautiful, 9 pound baby Adalaide died the next day.
The family have all been so strong and so faithful in their knowledge of the Plan of Salvation.  We know that the baby is really fine, that she is now in the presence of God.  We know she will be reunited with her family.  And yet, it is so sad.  It is sad not to have someone you love so much and want so much to be with you.  I have felt so sad for all of them and so amazed at their ability to continue on so gracefully and so faithfully.     I am so thankful that we have the gospel and that we have a Savior who loves us and who died for us so that all of us can have eternal lives.  What a great blessing it is to know that we will all live again, that our sins can be forgiven, and that we will be able to be with our loved ones for eternity.  I feel so blessed to know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and that  Jesus Christ, His son, lives and loves us too.  I love them both and and am grateful for the many blessings that I have in my life.