2020 Team 10 - Team Dylan

The worst 4 words any expecting parents can hear is 'There is no heartbeat'. I heard these 4 words on January 29th 2018. 

When my husband, Richard, and I found out we were expecting our second child due in March 2018, we were beyond excited to finish our family and for our daughter, Madelyn, to be a big sister. I was being monitored closely due to complications with my daughter throughout the pregnancy. I had an ultrasound and regular appointment the Friday before and everything was looking great. We even booked my scheduled c-section a few weeks earlier due to placenta insufficiency. On January 29th, at 32 weeks pregnant, I was at work and passed out. I was rushed to the hospital close by where many nurses tried to find the heartbeat and they eventually found one, but it was mine. The OB came in with an ultrasound machine and that is when I found out that our baby was no longer with us and had no heartbeat. 

I was taken to get an ultrasound, and shortly after returning back to my hospital room, I was immediately rushed to the OR to deliver him via emergency c-section as my life was in danger. I had a placental abruption that caused us to lose the boy we were hoping for and had to have 6 blood transfusions to save my life.

Dylan Lewis Stephens was born January 29th at 8:07pm at Orillia Soldier's Memorial Hospital at 4 pounds 3 oz. He was beautiful with a full head of hair, and looked like his daddy and big sister, Madelyn. He is so loved and missed everyday. He changed our world and the way we view life. Our new normal will never be normal again. 

I felt so alone, devastated, guilty, heartbroken, and so extremely lost. How could something like this happen to someone? Babies are not supposed to die. 1 in 4 women will experience pregnancy and infant loss. I am 1 in 4. 

6 days after losing Dylan, I went to my first PAIL (Pregnancy and Infant Loss) group and met Amy and Chris. They shared Grace's story and made us feel welcomed. They have been amazing, supportive and they are doing great things in honour of Grace for Emily's House. Having our baby's name as a team in Hockey for Grace is so amazing. 

Thank you to those playing on Team Dylan and thank you to those who support the team, whether by donating to Team Dylan or being there to cheer them on.