Turning Grief into Gratitude

Determined to commemorate their daughter, Emilia Marie, who died on July 2, 2010 at only 29 weeks gestation, Christopher and Danyelle DiGuardia have embarked on a campaign to garner support for BIDMC’s Klarman Family NICU. Through the Friends of Emilia Web site, the sale of purple memorial bracelets and recent benefit concerts, the DiGuardias have raised close to $15,000.

Read on to hear how the DiGuardias have turned their grief into gratitude by giving back to BIDMC and the staff that cared for Emilia.

In their words:

Emilia's Story

On June 19, 2010, Christopher and Danyelle DiGuardia became the proud parents of Emilia Marie, born at only 29 weeks gestation. After being notified that Danyelle had developed a severe case of the maternal disorder preeclampsia, she was rushed by ambulance to BIDMC where she gave birth to Emilia. Despite the best efforts of one of the most advanced neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the city, Emilia died on July 2, at less than two weeks old. They told us not to worry if she didn’t cry. But she cried out with a loud squeaky call, as if to say, “Emilia Marie DiGuardia is here! Here to leave her mark.” And that she did.

Emilia was with us for 13 days, all of which were spent in the NICU at BIDMC. Over the course of those days we cheered Emilia on as she did everything ahead of schedule, taking food and being weaned off her breathing support machine sooner than anyone would have expected. We half anticipated coming in one day to find that she had borrowed a doctor’s car and driven herself home.

The best days of our lives, were those spent with Emilia at BIDMC, thanks to the dedicated doctors and nurses of the NICU. They immediately set our minds at ease from telling us what to expect and assuring us they were prepared to involving us in every aspect of our new baby’s care encouraging us to touch her, help change her, even take her temperature. It was clear Emilia was in loving hands and that BIDMC was a special place, when we arrived on Father’s Day (the Sunday after she was born) to find a card, complete with a picture and footprint from Emilia and ostensibly, the nursing staff.

We are so grateful to the NICU staff for sharing each of her moments with us. We had the best 13 days of our lives, taking the elevator to the 9^th floor, getting buzzed in, washing our hands and seeing our little one. We will be forever indebted to the NICU staff at BIDMC for making the best days of our lives possible.