Family We Never Got To Meet

Family is one of the loose terms in the dictionary because it means differently to everyone. However, it can be defined as a specific group of people that may be made up of partners, friends, parents, children, or any other individuals who provide us a feeling of security and belongingness.

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With this, it’s hard when you lose them and even harder when you don’t meet them. But this story is a definite tearjerker. This just proves that some people, especially family members, are with us without us knowing.

Her Mom’s Little Secret

She sat among the beeping gadgets in the hospital bed, holding onto her newborn baby. She was tired from giving birth but overjoyed to finally hold a newborn baby that they all have been waiting for.

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However, she had no idea what to think when her husband strolled over and handed her a box she’d never seen before. The secret her mother had kept till she died was kept inside of this tiny box.

Katrina’s Pregnancy

Katrina shook her hands as she held the pregnancy test and unwrapped a second one just to be sure. The second one confirmed her suspicions: she was expecting a child. She was so excited to tell her husband about this great news.

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As she told her husband, Danny, she couldn’t suppress her joy. But, just as the pair felt things were looking up, the couple received some awful news. News that would turn all of their lives around.

Her Mom’s Terminal Illness

Joanne, Katrina’s mother, hadn’t been feeling well lately and had scheduled an appointment with her doctor. They ran different tests to find out what was wrong and what they can do about it.

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Unfortunately, when the biopsy results came back, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer, something no one wanted to hear. She only had a few months to live because her illness was fatal. Katrina and Sarah, Katrina’s sister, were distraught.

A Baby Bump And A Broken Heart

Katrina was unable to process the information. She couldn’t stand the thought that her loving mother, who had been by her side her entire life, would soon pass away. She wasn’t ready for that.

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Worse yet, her mother would not be present when her newborn boy was born. She’d never get to hold her grandchild, and he’d never know who she was. She sought help from her sister.

Finding Comfort In The Arms Of A Sister

Sarah and Katrina had always had a particular sisterly bond, so it was only natural that when they learned of their mother’s tragic prognosis, they turned to each other for consolation.

In those final weeks, they vowed to put on brave faces and spend as much time as possible with their mother. Katrina had no idea that their mother was keeping a secret from her and her soon-to-be son.

What Am I Supposed To Feel?

Katrina was understandably confused by her emotions. She couldn’t reconcile the happiness of being pregnant with the agony of losing her mother. She wants to be happy but her circumstances will never allow her.

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Despite the fact that this was supposed to be one of the best periods of her life, she couldn’t completely appreciate it as her mother was gradually taken away from her. She was numb when the day arrived.

Struggling To Fight

Katrina and Sarah had watched the strong, fearless lady they knew degenerate into a shadow of her former self, but they tried to remain strong for their then-struggling mother whom they cherished so much.

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The battle was never easy. They went through so much just to make their mother feel that they are with her through everything. Sarah and Katrina had it the hard way. They’ve been with their mom all their lives and this was a sudden shift.

It Was Time To Go

Finally, their mother’s battle with cancer came to an end. They bid her farewell with tears in their eyes and stayed by her side until the very end. They remained strong for one another.

Death and Dying – Love To Know

Little did they know, their mom had one final surprise up her sleeve—something that would somehow ease the longing that they have especially since she won’t be around when her grandson will be born.

Life Still Went On

Katrina was heartbroken that her mother would be unable to meet her grandson because she had died just six months before her due date. Despite this, the world did not stop turning and life did not stop for them.

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Things did not stop. In fact, it went on rapidly. Time does not stop when we lose our loved ones. We are still to continue this journey even without them. However, we have to remember the things that they’ve taught us and the love they made us feel.

Life After Nana Was Gone

Katrina’s pregnancy went off without a hitch. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on Friday, May 13th, accompanied by her sister, husband, and other loved ones. Sadly, there was still someone who was horribly absent. But, there was a twist in the tale.

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They knew about this but kept it a secret until the perfect moment would come. When it finally came, it somehow filled the gap from the absence of their mom. A new family member came to fill their hearts with love and joy.

Their Mom’s Last Promise

Sarah, Katrina’s sister, is a well-known YouTube vlogger. She and her husband’s YouTube channel had millions of subscribers. Therefore Katrina’s birth was broadcasted to the entire world in one of her vlogs.

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Nowadays, people are interested in what other people are up to. While it can be really stressful sometimes, it is beautiful when we capture genuine moments from genuine people as they go through their own lives.

What Joanne Wanted

But no one knew that immediately before Joanne died, Sarah and her mother had struck a unique pact, and now was the time to announce it. It was time to let Katrina know what their mom left for her and her son.

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Katrina had her mother name her son but she didn’t want to know right away. She wanted to wait until their son was out and they can all find out together how amazing Nana Joanne was when she chose her grandson’s name.

The Secret

Sarah had kept her mother’s secret hidden for six months. Joanne had given Sarah special instructions for the day of the baby’s birth just before she died. She left something everyone would remember.

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Sarah handed Denny the box she had in her hands. She directed him to deliver it to Katrina, who was still resting in her hospital bed, awaiting the cleaning and weighing of her baby son.

Captured Moments

Katrina sat on her hospital bed, her newborn baby in her arms. She was fatigued from giving birth but overjoyed to finally hold her kid. Sarah kept the camera rolling for the next bittersweet scene.

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Denny approached his wife and child, handing Katrina a box she’d never seen before. The secret her mother had kept till she died was kept inside. Who knew a beautiful moment would come?

Uncovering The Secret

Katrina ripped the black ribbon from the package, unwrapped it, and burst into tears. A gift and a smell of her mother’s favorite perfume. She cautiously removed a baby onesie and read the name ‘Harrison’ embroidered on the back.

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Katrina was gasping for air as tears streamed down her face. Her late mother had named her son from beyond the grave and she couldn’t think of any other name more beautiful and fitting than this.

How Was It Done?

When Katrina and Sarah learned of their mother’s terminal condition, they still wanted her to be present at the birth of her grandson and carry a memory of her for life.

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So the sister devised a heartbreakingly gorgeous scheme. Sarah requested Joanne to name Katrina’s baby just before she died, so she might be a part of his life — even if just in spirit.

Heartbreaking Thoughts

“My name was handpicked by Nanna Joanne in heaven,” the back of the onesie read. Their mother picked a meaningful name that would let them remember her through his grandson, Harrison.

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The video of the heartfelt name reveal was uploaded to Sarah’s YouTube channel, with the description: “Due to our mum being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer just a couple of months before my sister found out she was pregnant, my sister made an incredible decision.”

A Beautiful Final Gesture

“Wishing for our mother to play a significant role in her grandchild’s life, my sister planned that my mother would pick the name and announce it to me shortly before we had to say goodbye to her,” Sarah continued.

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“My sister and her boyfriend wanted the baby’s name to be a surprise until the day he was delivered, so I’ve been keeping it a secret for the last six months,” says Sarah who was very excited about this moment.

Our Family In Heaven

Many people believe that the first thing they want to do when they go to heaven is to see all of their friends and loved ones who have gone before them. Most of them want to hug and express how much they missed them.

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However, there will be plenty of time in eternity to see, know, and spend time with our friends and family there. For now, whenever we feel lonely, we can look up at the sky and hope that they’re looking down with a smile on their face.