Chris Duffy & Reese Christine
By Star Legacy Foundation Board Member, Chris Duffy in honor of Father’s Day 2015.
On November 2, 2014 at 4:47 p.m., our family was robbed. Robbed of a beautiful red-haired girl with so much potential.
Our daughter, Reese Christine Duffy, was born without a heartbeat less than 24 hours before her scheduled delivery. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, but that didn’t stop her from looking like a perfect baby girl.
I have always wanted a daughter. I knew I would be good at treating my little girl like a princess, intimidating her boyfriends, and walking her down the aisle with pride. This Father’s Day, it would be easy for me to dwell on the fact that I don’t get to do these things with Reese.
But I’ve done enough dwelling over the last seven months. So instead, I’m going to make a list of promises to my cherished daughter.
Reese Christine, I promise…
1) To look at your picture and think about you every day for the rest of my life.
2) To take good care of your mom and older brother.
3) To talk about you often so that our children will be excited to meet you when they arrive in heaven.
4) To continue sharing your story with anyone who will listen so that they understand that life is precious.
5) To do something every day that will make you proud, because I know you’re watching me like a hawk.
6) To cherish every moment with your brother, even when he’s acting like a stubborn toddler.
7) To make sure that your mom doesn’t blame herself for what happened. You and I both know she did an extraordinary job carrying you for 39 weeks.
8) To talk to you in moments of elation, despair, and anything in between.
9) To always remember the countless gifts you have given us.
10) To hold you and never let go, when I meet you on the other side.
Happy Father’s Day, Reese. I am honored to be your dad.
5 Comments
This is a beautiful story even though it is sad. Also sad is the fact that my grandson was a beautiful stillborn baby. God be with you.
Chris, thank you for sharing your love for your beautiful daughter. I know my husband feels much the same way after losing our baby girl at birth June 30, 2013 at 40 weeks 6 days during labor from a cord accident. She was scheduled to be induced the following day after a perfect but overdue pregnancy. We celebrate her second birthday in heaven soon with our two sunshine sons and new rainbow son who will all grow up knowing about their angel sister. It is so important to honor their memories and remember them! Love and prayers to you and thank you for all that you are doing to spread the word about the risks of infant loss.
Thank you for your your story. As I read each story the tears come again & again not only for your loss but also for ours. Our beautiful baby granddaughter was stillborn on May 29,2014. It was a cord accident and our daughter was almost 38 weeks pregnant with their first child. I miss her every day, and will never understand why these horrible accidents occur. As a grandmother, not only do I mourn the loss of my baby granddaughter, but I also wish I could help my precious daughter get through the devastation of losing her baby.
Chris, I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter. What a wonderful photo of you with Reese Christine.
My family was robbed, only 4 days after yours, by a very similar thief. Our daughter, Lydia, was stillborn from an umbilical cord accident, an apparent constriction in her cord that caused her heart to stop beating. To be honest, I haven’t given much thought to Father’s Day, perhaps out of a mistaken form of self-defense. I am sure there will be moments of guilt and yearning, but will look for those peaceful moments of hope as well.
I found myself nodding while reading your promises to Reese Christine. The desire to do, to make, to talk, to remember is so very present every day. Energy and love that simply can not be ignored and must have an outlet. While I don’t know you personally, I can see that love for your daughter in your promises and your work with the Star Legacy Foundation. Thank you for sharing and wishing you a peaceful Father’s Day.
NO WORDS more beautiful. NO SENTIMENT more sincere. We love you Chris and Amanda! THIS Father’s Day, you are all in my prayers.