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Article Dying dad cradles his baby girl as he slipped away

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Mum induces labour so her dying husband could meet his baby girl.

Diane Augler felt like she had been hit by a truck when she learned her husband Mark’s breathing problem was actually fatal pulmonary fibrosis. Mark, 52, had been diagnosed with colon cancer and had surgery to successfully remove the tumor. His doctors prescribed chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading, but the treatment caused severe scarring of the lung tissue, shares Daily Mail.

Mark had just a few days left to live and would likely not survive long enough to meet his unborn daughter. Diane was in a state of shock. She struggled to believe it was real until a doctor pulled her aside and asked “when are you going to have this baby?”

She was due on January 29th 2012, but doctors predicted Mark wouldn’t survive another week.

Diane had wanted a natural birth, but when her dying husband said “I’d like to see the baby,” Diane decided to induce on January 18th, 2012. Doctors and hospital staff pulled all the strings they could and arranged for a large delivery room to accommodate both Diane and Mark’s medical needs.

With two hospital beds pushed together, Mark lay beside his wife as she gave birth to their fifth child, Savannah. Mark held his baby girl for 45 minutes after she was born and the family spent the next few emotional days together in the hospital. As each day passed, Mark grew weaker until he fell into a coma on January 21st 2012.

On January 23, 2012 he passed away.

“If she cried, he would shake his head and moan. I put her on him when he was in the coma a few times and his hand would move toward her,” said Diane. Two days later Mark died surrounded by his family. As his heart rate dropped Diane placed Savannah in Marks arms. He cradled his baby girl all the way to his final breath.

Such a touching story.

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  • I’m sure it was a beautiful and emotional time but I just couldn’t bring myself to watch it. He is now at peace surrounded by love. My deepest sympathy to Diane and family. RIP Mark.

    Reply

  • I’m afraid I couldn’t watch the video. Tears were flowing just from reading the article.
    His dying wish was granted. He was able to meet and cuddle his new baby before
    he deteriorated too much to be completely aware of his surroundings.
    The medical professionals were very compassionate in making the Mum aware that his wish might not happen if she didn’t have her baby early and accomodated them so he saw the birth.
    If proves a person in a coma can still feel and hear sounds around him/her.
    It has been proved that the last sense a dying person normally loses is hearing.
    Dianne has a long road ahead of her, grieving the sad loss of her husband and father of their children, coping with a newborn and issues associated with that, helping her older children with their grieving process etc.
    Hopefully her relatives and friends will realise they need support for longer than just a few weeks, even if it is just to be a good listener. Later when you are alone can be the worst time to try to cope. The initial grieving process can take about 12 months, possibly longer, especially where children need extra car and support too.

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  • I am glad the hospital were able to help out and that dad got to meet his daughter. The video will be helpful in the future to show her. It is a miracle that everything came together, wish them all the luck they need in the future coping with this.

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  • Oh my god what a tear jerker! Tears are running down my face. So sad. But happy that the dad got to meet his baby. And amazing he showed incredible signs when in his coma when his baby was close

    Reply

  • Aw bless you Diane & kids, this must be so hard !!
    What a beautiful gift you gave your husband and Savannah by delivering Savannah early so Mark and Savannah could meet and hug eachother before he left the earth.

    Reply

  • Luckily they made a video. Little Savannah will be able to see her first and only moment with her dad in the future.
    It’s so sad. Poor woman. Poor family! :-(

    Reply

  • absolutely heart breaking

    Reply

  • oh my gosh, I cannot stop crying – such a terribly sad story…

    Reply
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