Mimi’s love: A story of birth, loss, and joy

My first grandchild just turned four months old, and I am in awe of how quickly he changes and grows. Every day, he becomes even cuter and more lovable than I could have imagined. It’s hard to believe that it was just over a year ago when our son and daughter-in-law surprised us with the news that they were expecting. They had just returned from a trip to Hawaii, and when they dropped by to see us, they brought a small gift. We sat down at the dining table, and Jody began opening the gift bag. Inside, there was a tiny pair of Crocs and a note that read, “Please keep these safe for me, I’ll need them in July. Your first grandchild.”

When Jody pulled out the Crocs, she froze, staring at our son in disbelief, then blurted out something like, “What the f*&^?” followed by, “Get the f*&^ out!” Then, as she read the note, the tears began to flow. It was such a quintessential Jody moment, full of shock, joy, and love. The entire moment was captured on video, and it’s something I’ll always treasure.

Thankfully, Jody lived long enough to be part of the excitement in the months leading up to the birth. She picked out our grandparent names—Mimi and Papa—and bought a bunch of baby gifts for Christmas. She attended the gender reveal in January and got to see the little one on an ultrasound. But just a few months later, in April, she passed away—three months before our grandchild was born. It breaks my heart to think about what she missed and continues to miss, especially considering how excited she was to become a grandmother. It’s a sadness I carry, not just for me, but for our entire family, who were robbed of her presence.

Still, I believe she’s watching over us from above. When the baby’s due date came and went, and everyone was growing impatient, I told them that Jody was probably holding on to that little one as long as she could, but he’d be here soon enough. My son even admitted that he said to her only half in jest, “Mom, I’m glad you’re with the baby, but do you think you could let him go soon?”

When our grandson finally arrived, the joy was overwhelming. He is absolutely beautiful, and every time I hold him, I see a little piece of Jody in him. It’s a powerful reminder of the circle of life—how birth and death are simply two ends of a continuum that stretches through eternity.

Jody lives on in this precious gift from above, and I am so grateful to have him in my life. I look forward to the day when I can tell him all about his Mimi—the amazing woman she was, how she loved him before he was even born, and how she’s always with him. Love is the thread that ties us all together, through every season of life.