Millie's Story
Amelia Celeste Petty
February 25, 2025 - February 28, 2025
As told in a love letter from Mom and Dad...
Dear Millie,
We miss you. There are no words big enough to hold the love we have for you or the ache we feel without you here. From the very first moment we knew about you, our lives were forever changed.
Your story began with surprise. That night at the ER, we thought it was something else entirely, but instead, you were the gift we never expected. The moment we realized you were coming into our lives, joy filled our hearts. We dreamed of you and your sister growing up close in age, playing side by side, best friends for life.
Just weeks later, our dreams were shaken. We had done a test to determine your gender. We couldn’t wait to find out if we were having a little boy or girl. The test results came back with words no parent ever wants to read: “very high risk for Trisomy 13.” In that moment, our hearts broke. We were mad, we were sad, and we were so confused. We didn’t know where to turn for help or answers to our questions. But even through the fear and the tears, we made a choice... we would not let your story be only sorrow. We would love you with everything we had, for as long as we were given.
Your heartbeat...
Millie's Heartbeat
After receiving the news, we decided to spend the day together. We grabbed some lunch, and afterwards we noticed a Fetal Fotos ultrasound studio next door. We looked at each other and asked, “Should we go hear our baby’s heartbeat?” It was such a tender, powerful time. We fell in love with you even more that day as we listened to your sweet heart beating so strong. We recorded your heartbeat and placed it inside a stuffed animal. We stood there staring at the wall of stuffed animals, holding each one, waiting for the right one to speak to us, and it was the koala. Somehow, we knew it was yours. We held this koala close when times got hard and just listened to your heartbeat. It brought us peace and comfort.
Fridays became your days...
After that first visit to the Fetal Fotos ultrasound studio we decided we needed to go see and hear you every week. And so, Fridays became your days. Every week we went to see you, to hear your strong heartbeat, to watch you wiggle and grow. Those ultrasounds became your milestones... your school pictures, your dance recitals, your little moments of life captured before you were even born. They were the highlight of our week, the days we looked forward to most.
Millie Smiling
At first it was just us. But soon we opened the door for others to meet you too. Grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends all crowded into those rooms, sometimes so full we could barely move. There were kids running around and laughter in the air. And in that space, everyone got to know you. Everyone saw you, heard you, and loved you. You weren’t just a diagnosis, you were our daughter, their granddaughter, their niece, their cousin, and friend. You were alive and you were celebrated.
Millie's Family at Fetal Fotos
Millie, you gave us strength. Every time we saw your little heart beating, we were reminded to keep going. You showed us how to live in the moment, how to cherish what we had, how to love more deeply. You made us stronger. You made us better. We cherished every heartbeat, not knowing if we would ever get to hold you. And then you surprised us again. You were born.
You were born...
Millie and Mom
There was a lot of tension in the room that morning. We didn’t know what to expect or what the outcome would bring, but with the supportive hands of our doctors and nurses, you arrived. After you were born, the doctor placed you on my chest, and you squawked. It was your first word, and it sounded like “I love you” to us. We asked the room if they heard that. And then you did it again, and we asked the room again. Our doctor responded with tears in his voice and said, “Yes. She is a miracle.” We couldn’t wait any longer. We immediately sent out a text to all our family and friends saying nothing but, “SHE’S ALIVE!” We can’t express the joy we felt in that moment, and we will never forget holding you and seeing how perfect you were, even with your little imperfections. Later, as we held you in our arms, we noticed your little nose and the way your cleft palate made a small nub, and it reminded us of a koala. Just like the koala stuffed animal that had brought us comfort, now here you were, bringing even more joy and comfort.
Koalas are Millie's favorite!
We hoped to have an hour with you. When we hit the hour mark, your Dad declared with so much joy, “Our prayers were answered... she gave us an hour!” Then we got another hour, and another. Eventually, it was time to go home. We got to bring you home, and even more joy enveloped us. We pulled out the outfit we had brought for you just in case. We hadn’t realized it when we packed it, but when we looked at you wearing it, we saw the koala on it. And we knew you were trying to tell us something.
You are our koala...
Original Millie's Gift Logo Concept
Millie, you kept showing us the koala was yours. From the heartbeat stuffed animal, to your little nose, to the outfit we dressed you in when we brought you home, each moment felt like your way of saying, “This is me.” Koalas are gentle, peaceful, and always carried close holding on to one another. That is how we think of you... carried close in our arms and forever in our hearts. The koala has become the symbol of your life and your legacy, Millie, and it is why it represents your Gift today.
Our last night together...
On our last night together, we couldn’t sleep. We knew it would be the final time we were all in the same space, and we didn’t want to waste a second. So we just held you in bed between us, breathing you in, memorizing your face, your smell, every tiny sound. It was bittersweet and unbearably hard, but also so sacred to us. We wanted to hold onto you for as long as time would let us. You gave us three beautiful days, three more than we ever expected. The next morning surrounded by family we held you and cherished every heartbeat down to the very last one, and said goodbye as you went home to heaven.
Dad carrying you one last time.
We will forever be grateful that you are ours. We are honored that we were chosen to be your parents, trusted with the sacred responsibility to love you. You may not have had years with us, but together we had a lifetime of love both in those special bonding ultrasounds and in the three days we shared holding you. You touched the lives of so many in your short time here, and now, through Millie’s Gift, you will touch the lives of countless more. You are our koala, holding every baby close. Your life was brief, but your legacy is eternal.
Thank you for coming into our lives, Millie. We love you with all that we are.
Love always and forever,
Mom and Dad