Wyatt’s Story

On Monday morning of August 18, 2014, my husband and I eagerly made it up to Baptist Hospital in Little Rock for the scheduled c-section of our second son, Wyatt. My pregnancy had been fairly uneventful and there was no reason to expect anything was wrong. I was 39 weeks and 4 days. We arrived around 6:30 that morning. As they began to get us settled in and me hooked up to all of the monitors, they realized that they couldn’t find the heartbeat. Two different amazing nurses tried all of the tricks of the trade. None of that would work though. Shortly after, they paged my doctor and brought in an ultrasound machine. 

Our little boy was there on the screen, but he was gone in every way that mattered to us. It was an earth-shattering moment that forever changed our world. He was delivered at 12:29 that afternoon. The deafening silence of that operating room is something that I will never forget. Wyatt looked perfect. He was a beautiful boy with a head full of dark brown, almost black, hair. The only thing wrong was that his heart wasn’t beating. 

I don’t remember everything from that day or the days that proceeded, but I recall pieces. I remember my phenomenal nurse, Dorothy, coming in my room with a packet from this place called Mamie’s Poppy Plates. At first she asked me if I wanted one and then quickly told me that I would want it. We talked through it, as I picked out the colors and design. At that moment, I had no idea what that plate would mean to me and do for my soul. 

A few weeks after leaving the hospital without Wyatt, I received this beautifully wrapped box. Inside was our plate. Seeing his name and his footprints brought me to my knees at first. I knew how much love was put into that plate. 

The following May, our family participated in our first Mamie’s Walk to Remember. It was such an emotional experience for me, but it was needed. The event  helped my heart in a way that I didn’t know was possible. Having all of the families come together to acknowledge and celebrate their babies did something for my soul. I knew that I had to be a part of helping this organization reach more families in need of this kind of healing. 

Our plate hangs in our living room for everyone to see. We share about the work that Mamie’s does to anyone that will listen. This organization allows parents and other family members a way to hold onto their loved ones that aren’t here anymore. It gives families an opportunity to see that they aren’t alone on this journey. We look forward to whatever event Mamie’s Poppy Plates puts on. Wyatt’s brothers are always so proud to show him off and talk about him. This event gives them that safe place to do so.

Wyatt’s memory lives on in all of us, and I know that each family that attends Mamie’s events feels the same way about their baby.  We know that Wyatt and other babies like him will always matter to this organization in the way that he matters to us. 

I am always so thankful to  Mamie’s Poppy Plates for all that you stand for and all that you do! 

-Wyatt’s mom and family (Heather Welch)