Prescott Porter Walters

Our son, Prescott Porter was born and passed away on November 14th. We actually were not expecting him to come until January 11th. The fact that we were expecting again so soon after Eliza was a shock to us; they were going to be just over 12 months apart! Just as we were getting used to the idea of having two children so close we found out that he had a condition called Diaphragmatic Hernia where his diaphragm never fully closed. His stomach, intestines and part of the liver had moved up in his chest cavity preventing his lungs to have sufficient room to grow. This condition doesn't present a problem until he is born and his lungs wouldn't have the capacity to breathe and there was no reason for him to come early. We also have just moved to Houston for Ed's job in September and felt that the Lord wanted us to be here for the wonderful medical care. I had many all day appointments at Texas Children's Hospital with ultrasounds, fetal MRI's, echocardiograms and conferences with the Neo-natalogists and Pediatric surgeons who would be working on Prescott when he came. We were actually still living in a hotel when I started having really irregular contractions in the middle of the night. We went to the hospital thinking that they would give me something to stop the contractions and that I would be put on bed rest until January. When I checked in they said that I had already dilated to 8 and I instantly started crying. I knew that I was too far to stop him from coming. He was born just an hour later.

The doctors took him immediately to try to ventilate his lungs. They worked on him, with chest compressions for over 30 minutes and they couldn't get his heart to sustain a beat nor could they get his lungs ventilated. Ed told the doctors that they could stop the heart compressions and he was able to bring Prescott into me. He was just over 32 weeks along which is usually not too early for most babies to live but he just had too much he was fighting against and of course Heavenly Father wanted him for another purpose. We feel so blessed that he was able to come to our family. We have a perfect son that is waiting for us in the Celestial Kingdom. We miss him terribly! We were able to spend as much time with him as we wanted. We were able to take a ton of photos and the hospital was so great. They brought in many blankets, outfits and fill-in-the-blank memory books that people had donated. They also took plaster molds of his hands and feet. There were so many tender mercies that took place within Prescott's short time here on earth. Looking back we were being loved by the Lord through all the events. The most cherished memory that we were able to make was the pictures of Eliza with her baby brother. We hadn't even gotten settled in our house and were still staying in a hotel so we just brought Eliza with us which was interesting having Ed hold her in one arm and hold my hand in his other while in labor. Because she was with us she was able to be in so many photos with Prescott. I know that she will treasure those photos later in her life. She was given a little kitty when Ed took her to the Ronald McDonald House for a break. When she got back to our room she kept wanting to show Prescott the kitty. She would point and wave to Prescott when we would ask, "Where is the baby?" The Neo-natalogist that was on call that night was Dr. Jennifer Arnold from TLC's The Little Couple show. I had just seen the show a few times before to know that she was a Neo-natalogist at Texas Children's Hospital. When she walked in my room just after I was checked in and told me that she would be working on my baby I told her that I felt like I knew her and she asked if we had met before. I said, "No, I have just seen your show a few times, so I feel like I know you." I felt so comforted seeing a familiar face and knowing enough about her to know she is a good person. She was very nice and after Prescott had passed she came in to apologize for not being able to save him. It really is the gospel and the fact that we know when we are sealed in the temple as husband and wife that all children born to us are ours forever. The sadness and tears come when I miss Prescott and know that I have to wait to be with him. I can't wait to get to know his personality traits and discover his talents.

Just a week after his birth we buried Prescott in Chico, California near other family members. The cemetery is less than a mile from my parents home. He will have many visitors and be remembered often. The day that he was buried we went to dress him in a beautiful outfit. We placed a letter I wrote to him in the hospital with the kitty that Eliza wanted to give him in his casket. It was raining very hard and the funeral directors offered numerous times to allow us to hold our service indoors. Ed and I both wanted to be outside. With our families, we gathered to honor Prescott. His uncle Davin gave a beautiful prayer and afterwards we sang "I am a Child of God." Just moments after we started singing the rain stopped and the sun peaked through the clouds down on his casket and flowers. It was a perfect moment where Heavenly Father wanted us all to know that he loves us and that Prescott was happy. After the song, Ed was able to share some thoughts he had. Prescott's Grandpa Arvonen then dedicated the grave site to be protected and blessed until his resurrection.

We would like to thank all our family, friends and doctors that showed us such an outpouring of love, support and skill. We love our little Prescott so much. We know that we will have the opportunity to raise him after we pass from this life. He is a beautiful, perfect son of our Heavenly Father and we cannot wait to be with him. We miss him terribly and hope that we live worthy to return to him.