Van Harris Barja

October 4, 2006 - November 9, 2006

 

I am Shea Barja, Van's grandmother. My email address is: bsbarja@yahoo.com

We knew in our hearts that Heaven was Van’s home and that he would only be with us for a short while. Still, it wasn’t easy to let him go. He arrived on October 4th, 2006 , after a normal pregnancy and delivery. Unknown to us during those nine months of joy and anticipation, Van was growing peacefully in my daughter-in-law’s womb with full trisomy 13. The doctors didn’t expect him to live through the night, much less the thirty six days in which he graced our presence.

Although I had four other grandchildren at the time, Van was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. He had an aura about him that was indeed Heavenly. His time here was very intense for our whole family.

I admire my son and daughter-in-law for loving Van so lavishly, enjoying every minute with him, knowing it could be his last. It broke my heart to see my children suffer, just as my children hurt to watch their own child suffer. But I never prayed for Van’s healing. How could I ask God to fix one who was so perfect?

I only prayed for his comfort and that we could let Van go when it was time to say goodbye. Having Van was like winning the lottery. One out of five thousand babies are born with full trisomy 13. How fortunate and thankful we are that God entrusted us with such a wonderful gift as Van. He forever altered our lives, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We have scars, and wounds in our hearts that still break open and bleed, but scars tell stories, and Van’s is such a beautiful story, one that I am always happy to share.

Van’s mom is Robin Barja robin_barja@yahoo.com