Obituary for Jessica Jordan Oakley
We lovingly honor the memory of our daughter (Lily’s baby sister), J.J.
Our baby girl was delivered into the world on May 19, 2021 at 8:30pm. A beautiful baby girl weighing 14 ounces and 9 inches in length.
The same day, our precious little J.J. was called away to be with her guardian angel fur-siblings, Willow and Rajah.
A bit more experienced this time around, we knew almost immediately that we were pregnant. Until that moment we had envisioned a future as a family of three. We could never have imagined how quickly we would fall in love and begin to envision a new future as a family of four.
On January 18, 2021 we had our initial baby doctor appointment. That was the first time our little J.J. gave us a scare. The doctor was not confident that she could find a heartbeat. An urgent ultrasound appointment had me running from one clinic to another with fear in our hearts. The ultrasound seemed to take forever. It felt as though I had been holding my breath the whole time. Then it was over, and with the words, “there is a heartbeat”, I broke down into tears. We had not realized how much we wanted another baby but, J.J. showed us.
On April 14, 2021 we shared with our friends and family the joyous news that we were to become a family of four. The very next day, we received a call from the doctor. That was the second time our little J.J. gave us a scare. My bloodwork indicated an extremely high probability that baby would have one of the Trisomy Syndromes. An urgent genetic specialist appointment had me running for an in-depth panel with talks of invasive medical tests; yet again, filling our hearts with fear. It would be two weeks before we received the results. The new indicators showed that baby was at a very low risk of these and related conditions. This little J.J. was keeping us on the edge of our seat.
We went to Baby Moon on April 27th for our family ultrasound. All together, surrounded by Daddy, Lily and I, we listened to your little heartbeat, saw you moving around like it was a jungle gym inside mommy’s belly, and we learned that we would be a family of four with the two sweetest little girls ever. Our hearts were so full. The future was becoming clear, and we began envisioning our new life with two amazing and adorable little girls.
On May 6, 2021 we had our standard ultrasound appointment. In less than 24 hours, we received several calls. This would be the third and final time that our little J.J. would give us a scare. The doctor, genetic specialist, and fetal assessment had concerns. After 6 hours in hospital, a Cardiac specialist diagnosed J.J. with an extremely rare condition very similar to Ebstein’s Anomaly. By May 11, 2021 it was evident that our baby’s heart was failing. All of our fears and our moments of relief rolled up as a knot in the back of our throats as we choked back our tears. We spent the next week wishing for a miracle.
On May 18th, we found out that a miracle would never come.
Please feel free to talk to us about J.J., who we wish to remember as the child we love, not a secret to be kept silent. We know our hearts will take time to heal, and we appreciate your care and support in our grief.
Thank you for your support during this difficult time.
We wished for a baby, but we were given an angel instead
In lieu of gifts/ flowers, donations can be made to the Children's Hospital of Manitoba.
Our baby girl was delivered into the world on May 19, 2021 at 8:30pm. A beautiful baby girl weighing 14 ounces and 9 inches in length.
The same day, our precious little J.J. was called away to be with her guardian angel fur-siblings, Willow and Rajah.
A bit more experienced this time around, we knew almost immediately that we were pregnant. Until that moment we had envisioned a future as a family of three. We could never have imagined how quickly we would fall in love and begin to envision a new future as a family of four.
On January 18, 2021 we had our initial baby doctor appointment. That was the first time our little J.J. gave us a scare. The doctor was not confident that she could find a heartbeat. An urgent ultrasound appointment had me running from one clinic to another with fear in our hearts. The ultrasound seemed to take forever. It felt as though I had been holding my breath the whole time. Then it was over, and with the words, “there is a heartbeat”, I broke down into tears. We had not realized how much we wanted another baby but, J.J. showed us.
On April 14, 2021 we shared with our friends and family the joyous news that we were to become a family of four. The very next day, we received a call from the doctor. That was the second time our little J.J. gave us a scare. My bloodwork indicated an extremely high probability that baby would have one of the Trisomy Syndromes. An urgent genetic specialist appointment had me running for an in-depth panel with talks of invasive medical tests; yet again, filling our hearts with fear. It would be two weeks before we received the results. The new indicators showed that baby was at a very low risk of these and related conditions. This little J.J. was keeping us on the edge of our seat.
We went to Baby Moon on April 27th for our family ultrasound. All together, surrounded by Daddy, Lily and I, we listened to your little heartbeat, saw you moving around like it was a jungle gym inside mommy’s belly, and we learned that we would be a family of four with the two sweetest little girls ever. Our hearts were so full. The future was becoming clear, and we began envisioning our new life with two amazing and adorable little girls.
On May 6, 2021 we had our standard ultrasound appointment. In less than 24 hours, we received several calls. This would be the third and final time that our little J.J. would give us a scare. The doctor, genetic specialist, and fetal assessment had concerns. After 6 hours in hospital, a Cardiac specialist diagnosed J.J. with an extremely rare condition very similar to Ebstein’s Anomaly. By May 11, 2021 it was evident that our baby’s heart was failing. All of our fears and our moments of relief rolled up as a knot in the back of our throats as we choked back our tears. We spent the next week wishing for a miracle.
On May 18th, we found out that a miracle would never come.
Please feel free to talk to us about J.J., who we wish to remember as the child we love, not a secret to be kept silent. We know our hearts will take time to heal, and we appreciate your care and support in our grief.
Thank you for your support during this difficult time.
We wished for a baby, but we were given an angel instead
In lieu of gifts/ flowers, donations can be made to the Children's Hospital of Manitoba.