At 11pm on Tuesday night, Julia was doing beautifully. By 1:45am, the medical team had decided that it was time to stop trying to revive Julia. What happened in the meantime is hard to describe. She began to look pale, and the nurse called several colleagues in, one at a time, until the room was full. The attending doctor could not find a pulse, and suddenly we were witnessing an excruciating scene involving the medical team doing chest compressions on our daughter (whose chest was already wounded from surgery) for over an hour. After she had been intubated, they worked on getting her heart to pump manually. Our surgeon came in at midnight to take over her care. What a privilege to have a world-renowned surgeon caring for our daughter in the middle of the night.
At 1:45am, Dr. Galantowicz came over to us and said, "I can't do this any more. It's not right." We had known this intuitively much earlier, so we agreed immediately. Dr. Galantowicz buried his head in his hands while holding ours, and said, "This shouldn't have happened. This has never happened like this before. This is wrong." The team really wasn't sure how Julia's condition had changed so quickly. He later said to us, "Julia had bad mojo all day. Her case is evidence that there are forces greater than us at work."
At this point, the team's best hypothesis is that the blood pressure in her lungs got too high and caused her heart to shut down. Our doctors will go over every tiny detail of what happened last night, and then they will look at the autopsy results. Based on this, they will give us their best guess of what happened, probably some time after Christmas.
The funeral service for Julia will be on Saturday, December 14, at 10am.
Heritage Christian Church
| 7413 Maxtown Rd, Westerville, OH 43082 |
Christine, I stumbled on your blog and had been following Julia's journey, like so many others, I'm sure. My heart is just so heavy for you. I am thinking of and praying for you, and for Julia. May you all be blessed, and strong. Ashley Senary
ReplyDeleteI am friends with John & Sarah Cleghorn, and have read the posts on your blog as Sarah posted them. I am so sorry. Your family has been on my heart and in my prayers today.
ReplyDelete- Kasey Johnson
Our great grandbaby Julia. 5 months old, went home to Jesus last night after open heart surgery. God is sovereign and knows what is best for us and Julia. Please join us in prayer for Julia's parents, Taylor and Christine Shipman, that they will know the peace that passeth all understanding.
ReplyDeletei have been quietly following Julia and your family's story since she was born. i am so damn sorry. it's not much, but know that i am mourning with you all today. i love you guys. M.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry for you loss.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry Christine and Taylor. I'll continue to pray as you grieve the loss of your very special little girl. She's touched so many lives in her short life here on earth. Jesus is holding her now, be comforted in knowing that.
ReplyDeleteTaylor and Christine, I just recently found your blog by one of my Facebook friends and have to say how deeply saddened and sorry I am for your loss of your beautiful little Julia. My thoughts and prayers are with you today.
ReplyDelete- Laura Sweet Minnesota
Christine I am so sorry for your loss. Wods cannot describe my feelings and prayers for you and your family. She looked like such a special little girl.
ReplyDeleteShannon Stanton (McFadden)
O Christine, Taylor, & Natalie, I am praying as you mourn the loss of such a sweet blessing! -Kate
ReplyDeleteChristine,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through my friend, Jenna. She posted it on Facebook this morning. My friends and I have been heartbroken about Julia. Several of their "babies" had the same heart condition. OHS has come so far and saved so many that it now can feel like "no big deal"; making your sorry that much more heartbreaking. Life is so random. Please know that there are those, tied to you through the bonus chromosome, who hold you and Julia in our hearts. Your family will forever be a part of our family. xoxo
Thank you so much for your words, Megan. I did feel like OHS was presented to us as no big deal, especially for Julia's type of problem, so I feel so blindsided by this. I love your phrase "bonus chromosome." That is/was so true of our sweet little ones, who teach us more than we ever could teach them. I am so grateful to be part of the family of loved ones with Down Syndrome.
DeleteYou are in the thoughts and prayers of so many. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beautiful girl. Some things just don't make any sense.
ReplyDeleteMy heart is hurting. I can't imagine yours. Praying for your family.
ReplyDeleteTaylor and Christine how we wish this had not happened. We were praying for Julia and you two late last night here in WA when Becky saw your FB post that something was wrong. We will now pray for God's peace that passes all understanding. Denhams
ReplyDeleteI am also a friend of Sarah Cleghorn, and have also been quietly following and praying as she posted updates. What a bright little star Julia was, for the moments she was in your life. How few, how precious, and how very much missed she will be! Praying for peace and comfort, even as your arms are aching for her; strength and wisdom, for the many decisions, changes and painful moments; and even a sense of joy in this season for her parents, sister, and for all of her family. Oh, Jesus, hold her family close, even as Julia finds wholeness with you.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for the loss of your sweet baby girl. Your family is in my heart and prayers.
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of my wife, Therese and I, please know we'll pray for comfort. (friends of Amanda Geiss)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh Christine! I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your sweet baby girl! What a precious daughter you were blessed with for such a short time. She is in the arms of her Heavenly Father now and forever in your hearts and everyone's heart who has ever met her! Constant prayers for all of you. Love you! So sorry!
ReplyDeleteA friend posted your blog today. Praying for you as you face the long road of grief. I cannot imagine the pain you are feeling.
ReplyDeleteTaylor, Christine, and Natalie: I am so sorry for the loss of your precious Julia. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering you are feeling right now. She was a beautiful little girl. I will be praying for you now and in the days and weeks to come. May God give you strength and may you feel his presence.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss and will continue to lift you all up in prayer. My deepest sympathies.
ReplyDeleteChristine and Taylor, so sorry for the loss of precious Julia. We are praying for you both, and for beautiful little Natalie. Jeff and Elsie Iudicello
ReplyDeleteDear Christine and Taylor, We are in tears for your loss of beautiful little Julia. Chelsea told us last night. I thought of the words from Handel's Messiah taken from Job 19:26-27 In my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! ..... She is all the way better now and we will see or meet her again soon! We love you. David and Anne Lautz
ReplyDeleteDear Christine and Taylor, We don't know each other, but I want you to know that I am praying for you. God's plans are not always ours but He does have a plan in all of this. I am praying that His peace and comfort will overwhelm you as you journey forward.
ReplyDeleteDawn Asma
My heart is breaking for you all. I'm so so so incredibly sorry for your loss. Those words just don't even begin to do it justice though. I just pray that God is with you today and always…knowing that sweet, sweet Julia is in His loving arms and that just because there are no earthly reasons why, or how, that He knows and that we have to trust in His perfect timing. It doesn't make the pain less…just know we're thinking of you all and praying for His reassuring guidance and peace during this terrible, awful and heart wrenching time. Love, prayers and hugs to your family.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through my nephew and his wife Brian and Amanda Geiss. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as you mourn the loss of your precious baby girl. May God wrap you in His loving arms today and in the weeks and months to come.
ReplyDeleteDear Julias Family,
ReplyDeleteWe are so sorry to hear about your loss. We have been praying as tons of others have been praying. The only comfort I got was when you said that a world class surgeon was there to work on her. Someday,if not now, that will be a reminder that all that could have been done for her, was done and the Lords Will--"something bigger than us" was at work.
May GOD give all of you the specific comfort you need at this time.
We love you and will continue to pray.
Linda I and family.
Your blog was forwarded as a prayer request to my church. Im so deeply heartbroken for your family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers as you endure an incredibly difficult time.
ReplyDeleteChristine,
ReplyDeleteOur prayers are with you.
Larry and I send our deepest love.
Remember, your hearts are being so tenderly held by our Father in Heaven, for He knows your pain.
We will continue for pray for you.
Larry and Betsy Izzo