During her mid-pregnancy, Brianna faced a critical choice: end her pregnancy for life-saving treatment or continue carrying her child without medical intervention.
She selected to forgo treatment and prioritize her unborn child. This decision led to devastating consequences, resulting in the loss of both lives.
Her newborn, Kyden, survived for 12 days. Though brief, his life was filled with intense love. His early arrival, three months before term, occurred because of his mother's blood infection.
Medical professionals performed an emergency cesarean section, fearing the infection's transmission to the baby.
In her Femail interview, Brianna shared: "My 12 days with Kyden were precious. I held him, counted his tiny features, and spoke to him as I did during pregnancy. Those days were life's greatest gift."
She added: "Despite the challenges, Kyden gave me strength to continue fighting. His memory drives me forward."
Initially, Brianna showed signs of recovery. Her blood counts improved, and she worked diligently to restore her leg function.
However, her health declined significantly. Doctors canceled her scheduled bone marrow transplant from her brother and suggested an experimental drug treatment.
The costly treatment, at $3,000 weekly, became possible through family fundraising efforts. Brianna received two rounds before succumbing to leukemia on December 29, 2018, at age 19.
Her story exemplifies extraordinary maternal sacrifice. The Rawlings family deserves support during this difficult time. Her courage serves as inspiration in the ongoing battle against cancer.
Man Whose Wife Died at Childbirth Ponders Giving up Baby until He Sees Her Texts with a Friend — Story of the Day
After childbirth, David lost his wife, Joan, and couldn't even look at their baby or go through her possessions. But after working with a therapist, he finally started sorting through his wife's belongings. He turned on her phone and found several messages that changed everything.
"Despite our best efforts, we couldn't save your wife. She's gone, sir."
Those terrible words kept echoing in David's mind multiple times each day since his daughter was born, a lovely girl. However, he couldn't bring himself to look at her after leaving the hospital. He was so devastated that he couldn't accept that his dear Joan was no longer alive. Fortunately, his mother stepped in and kept watch over the baby as much as possible.
David did the least he could. His grief was so overwhelming that he couldn't see clearly. But one day, his mother had enough and ordered him to see a therapist right away. He agreed and began attending sessions, working through his sadness.
Eventually, he felt a glimmer of hope, and although the doctor's words still haunted him often, they no longer affected him as much.
His mother was proud of his progress, yet David still didn't dare hold his daughter. He was continuing therapy. Sometimes, he wondered, Maybe I'll hold her someday. Or maybe I should just give her to someone better suited to be a parent, he thought.
But he quickly dismissed that thought. Today, he had different plans. He wanted to go through Joan’s belongings, organize them, and donate some items to charity.
He hadn't touched her hospital bag since the day he brought her home with the baby. It was too painful. But for the first time in three months, he found the courage. He opened the bag and discovered her mobile phone inside. It had run out of charge during her labor and hadn't been recharged since.
He plugged it into the wall, then started sorting through Joan's clothes. An hour later, he checked the phone again and saw several missed calls and messages.
At first, some were congratulatory, from Joan’s friends knowing she had gone into labor. But one friend, Melissa, kept texting even after news of Joan’s death spread among their friends.
"I'm not the only one who misses her," he thought as he browsed through the messages, smiling at Joan’s strong friendships. But something in one message made him frown.
It's a pity you sacrificed your life… Melissa wrote.
David didn't understand. Joan had died because of an unexpected complication. But that message felt strange, as if Melissa had foreseen her death. He needed more information, so he scrolled to the beginning of their conversation.
Most of the messages were about Joan's pregnancy, her excitement, how fascinated she was, how her baby would be the best and most beautiful. But after several months, the tone of the texts changed.
Joan had written, The doctors said something frightening.
Melissa asked, What? What's happening? Are you okay?
Joan replied, They said I have high blood pressure and might develop pre-eclampsia. The doctor suggested I terminate the pregnancy.
Melissa responded, No! Honey, that's terrible. But what if you die? What did David say?
Joan answered, He wasn't with me. I haven't told him. He wants a child so badly. We've been trying for ten years, Melissa. I can't abort this baby. It's his dream to be a father.
Melissa urged her, Joan, you could die! He wouldn’t want that. He loves you!
Joan replied softly, I know, Mel. But it’s our baby. I love him and the baby. I'm willing to risk it.
David couldn't believe it. His wife had risked her life despite medical warnings, just to please him. He had been desperate to become a father, and now he felt ashamed. He hadn't even held his baby since the hospital.
The rest of the conversation was Melissa asking Joan if she felt okay. Joan always responded that she felt fine, though the doctor said it might be hard to tell. David couldn't remember if the doctors had mentioned pre-eclampsia, but he stopped listening the moment they told him Joan had died.
He put down the phone and asked himself, What now? Should he let his mother raise the daughter Joan sacrificed her life to give him?
He broke down crying, but this time, his tears came as a release. They were a way of thanking Joan for her sacrifice and a sign of his resolve. He decided that he would be the best father possible. Their daughter, Georgina Joan Sanders, would grow up surrounded by love and stories about her amazing mother. He was determined to make that happen.
He then called his mother. Mom, bring her back. I’m ready now.
Her mother’s voice trembled with relief. Thank God! she nearly started crying.
What lessons can we take from this story?
Respect and appreciate your partner's sacrifices. Even if they are still alive, recognize what they do for you daily and be grateful.
Seek help when you need it. David couldn't heal from his grief alone, but he was brave enough to see a therapist and work through it.
Share this story with your friends. It might lift their spirits and motivate them.
Lady Gets Call from Hospital, Finds Out She Lost Her Loathed Sister and Got Two
Newborn Nephews
At a young age, Linda's older sister left her in a group home. Years later, she ends up caring for her young nephews, who face the same fate.
Linda and her older sister, Amanda, argued frequently when they grew up. Eventually, Amanda went away to college while Linda still attended high school.
The disputes paused for a while since they no longer shared a house. But whenever Amanda visited, the fighting would resume. "All I want is for you two to stay close no matter what," their mother, Meredith, often said.
Everything changed when Meredith became seriously ill. With their father absent, Meredith had no choice but to ask Amanda for help.
"If things get worse, please don’t abandon Linda. She’d have to live in a group home, but once you finish school, please come back for her," Meredith begged Amanda.
Meredith later died peacefully in her sleep. Linda stayed in a shelter, waiting for her sister’s graduation.
At the end of the year, Linda learned that Amanda had finished school and tried to call her. Amanda hung up without saying a word.
Weeks went by, then months. Linda realized Amanda would never return. The sisters ceased speaking and grew to dislike each other even more.
After a tough year, a kind couple, Tim and Gabby, adopted Linda. She was treated like family and finished high school happily. Her new parents supported her through college graduation. "No matter what happens, we're just a phone call away," Gabby told her.
Linda became a successful real estate agent in her hometown. She loved helping people find homes, just as Tim and Gabby had helped her.
One day, Linda received a call from the hospital. A nurse said she was Amanda's emergency contact. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your sister died from complications during childbirth. She gave birth to two boys, and you are their closest relative," the nurse explained.
Linda felt confused and upset. Amanda never told her she was pregnant or that she had listed her as an emergency contact. How dare she, Linda thought.
She called Tim and Gabby for advice. They knew she had struggled with feeling abandoned before and trusted they could help her.
"I know this is hard, but Amanda was your sister, and those two babies didn’t do anything wrong. You should go to the hospital and get some answers," Tim told her.
Linda thanked them but still felt unsure. She believed the father of the boys should take responsibility. She didn't think she would adopt them, especially after all Amanda had done.
At the hospital, Linda spoke to a nurse who showed her Amanda’s note left before she died.
"It may be too late, but I see now how many mistakes I made and how much I regret them.
I know forgiveness isn’t easy now, but please consider my last wish.
I ask you to take my children. I beg you.
Only as a mother did I understand how my own mother felt asking me not to leave you.
I feel those emotions now... I’m so sorry," the note read.
Linda struggled to process everything and sat in the hospital wondering if there was more she didn’t know. Where is their father, she wondered.
She found on Amanda’s phone many calls and messages to a man named Derek. It turned out he had left town once he found out Amanda was pregnant.
Amanda had no support for months before she went into labor. Linda saw similarities to her mother, Meredith, who was also abandoned by her husband after Linda was born and had to raise her alone.
Linda called Tim and Gabby again. "When I look at those two babies, I remember how I was left at that group home," she said. "You seem to know what to do," Tim replied.
Later, she left a message for the father.
"I hope one day you realize your mistake of leaving Amanda and your sons behind. I pray you seek forgiveness before it’s too late," she wrote.
That day, Linda officially became the guardian of her nephews. She named them Timothy and Gabriel, after her adoptive parents. Her main goal was to honor her sister and mother by making sure the boys always supported each other.
She told her nephews, "No matter what, you should always stay close, through good times and bad."
The three of them lived happily, with Linda enjoying giving the boys a home. She often visited their mother’s and grandmother’s graves, placing fresh flowers.
Linda forgave her sister and wished they had reconciled when Amanda was alive. She felt comfort in seeing Amanda’s eyes in her nephews, Timothy and Gabriel.
Lessons from this story:
Set aside differences. If Amanda had forgiven her sister earlier, they might have stronger bonds.
It’s never too late to forgive. Even after death, Linda learned to forgive Amanda and accept her children.
Share this story. It might inspire someone and brighten their day.
Poor Mom Is Barred from Boarding Plane to Get Home to Son, ‘I Need to See My Baby!’ She Screams
A distressed mother becomes furious when she is prevented from boarding her flight. "You don’t get it! I have to see my baby!" she shouts, but her plea falls on deaf ears. Eventually, she receives unexpected assistance from an unlikely person.
When Caitlyn and Declan Cooper welcomed their son, Eden, Caitlyn took on most of the parenting responsibilities while Declan became the primary income earner.
A few months after Caitlyn started staying at home full time, Declan noticed how exhausted she appeared. She rarely had any time for herself and couldn’t sleep well because Eden would wake her during the night.
For Caitlyn’s birthday, Declan surprised her with plane tickets to Japan for a trip with her friends, promising he would stay behind to care for Eden alone. Caitlyn hesitated, worried about how Declan could manage everything, but he insisted, and she agreed.
Caitlyn was stopped from boarding her flight. When she tried to get on, she was told she couldn’t because of her passport name not matching her ticket. She protested loudly, crying out, “I just need to see my baby!” but it was no use.
A week later, after Declan and Eden dropped her at the airport, Caitlyn already missed them terribly. Even on the plane, her mind kept wandering to whether Declan could handle everything at home.
From the moment she landed in Japan, she called Declan every hour to ask how things were going. Her friends teased her, saying she was just overreacting. But only Caitlyn knew how anxious she felt that something might go wrong.
Three days into the holiday, Caitlyn and her friends attended a beach party. While her friends were admiring the men with their shirts off, Caitlyn seemed distracted.
“Sophie,” she whispered, interrupted, “where are you even right now? Just look at that guy. He’s so hot…”
Caitlyn sighed, “I’m not really in the mood, Sophie. I want to go back to the hotel. Sorry.”
Sophie frowned. “Is this about your baby and husband again? Caitlyn, I get it, but stop being so miserable here. You’re glued to that stupid phone! Give it to me!” She tried to grab Caitlyn’s phone.
“STOP IT, SOPHIE!” Caitlyn yelled, pulling her arm away and catching the attention of Veronica and Amanda. “I told you I'm not interested! Screw your party!”
She stormed back to her hotel room, pacing anxiously while trying to reach Declan. She had already tried calling him three times at the beach, and now she had tried ten times with no answer.
Her stomach knotted with fear. As a last resort, she called her neighbor, Mrs. Louis, to check on Declan and Eden, but no one answered. Sophie was crying, unsure what to do.
Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Mrs. Louis, but Caitlyn also heard noise in the background.
“Mrs. Louis!” Caitlyn exclaimed. “Declan… he’s not answering! Can you check on him and Eden? Please? I’m in Japan….”
“Oh, Caitlyn, thank goodness you’re safe. There was a fire at your house, and the firefighters are still working to put it out…”
“Fire?” Caitlyn’s heart pounding, she asked, “Hello? Mrs. Louis?” The line was cut off abruptly.
Trying again, she got no response. Panic took over her as she rushed back to the beach.
“What’s wrong, Caitlyn? Why are you crying?” Sophie asked worriedly.
“Dec—Declan and Eden… there was….”
She broke down crying, overwhelmed. Her friends comforted her, but Caitlyn insisted she had to go home immediately. They went to the airport, but all flights to New York were fully booked.
“I have to get home now!” Caitlyn begged every person at the check-in counter. Most refused to help because they didn’t understand English, or they refused because of strict policies.
Finally, an older woman stepped forward. “Are you trying to buy a ticket?” she asked gently.
Caitlyn nodded desperately. “Yes! I’ll pay anything — even my diamond earrings! I need to see my husband and baby. Please!” she begged, offering her wedding gift jewelry.
The woman handed her her ticket with a kind smile. “Here. I’m Brenda White, by the way.”
“Oh my God! Thank you so much! I’m Caitlyn Cooper. I’ll be forever grateful,” Caitlyn exclaimed.
“You should get going now,” Brenda said. “Your flight is about to depart.”
Relieved, Caitlyn hurried, but her happiness quickly vanished when she was stopped at check-in. “Sorry, ma’am, but your passport name doesn’t match your ticket. You cannot board,” said the stewardess.
“Please! You don’t understand! I need to see my baby!” Caitlyn shouted. “Let me go! It’s urgent!”
The staff responses were cold: “That’s the rule. Please step back.”
Caitlyn almost broke down before a different staff member approached. “You are allowed to go, ma’am,” she said. “We’ve been informed about your emergency. It’s fine now.”
She didn’t wait to see how she was suddenly permitted to board. Filled with relief, Caitlyn just wanted to get home—to Declan and Eden.
Hours later, she arrived and saw only a burned shell where her house used to stand. There was no sign of her husband or child.
She went to Mrs. Louis’ home, trembling with fear, trying to find out where her family was.
Mrs. Louis told her that Declan and Eden had been taken to the hospital immediately after the fire. Caitlyn rushed there and was told their injuries weren’t serious but they needed monitoring. The fire was caused by a short circuit at their house.
Seeing Eden and Declan with bruised faces and wrapped in bandages, Caitlyn cried. She was thankful they were alive.
After two weeks in the hospital, they stayed at Mrs. Louis’ house while their home was repaired. During that time, Caitlyn told Declan about the old woman who helped her.
Declan wanted to thank her so they tried to find her on Facebook. When Caitlyn found her, she almost fainted — it was the airline owner’s mother. She had shared many pictures with her son. No wonder she got special permission to help Caitlyn.
They sent her a message, thanking her, and a few days later, she responded. Mrs. White came to dinner with a bouquet and met Caitlyn’s family and Mrs. Louis. Since then, the families have become close.
Lessons from this story:
Family comes first. Caitlyn was willing to give anything, even her jewelry, just to reach her family.
Be there for those you love. Caitlyn always prioritized her family and wanted to be with them when they needed her most.
