I got the news on my mission that I was going to be an aunt. I probably told the whole world! I was so excited and anticpated the arrival of this baby. Born October 13, 2018 a little after 8pm, Matthew Logan 'because Wolverine was not appropriate' Ely came into this world. He was 6lbs and something ounces. He was a perfect baby! But prior to his birth, we knew that his heart was not quite there. The process was to have a surgery right after he was born to sustain his life. But his perfect body couldn't take the stress of surgery. Matthew returned to his Heavenly Father Sunday morning at 2:19am. He was surrounded by the best parents and many other family members.
(His actual birth certificate)
I got the news of his birth, the complications, and his passing while in Rexburg. I look back on that and it was totally divine design that I received it there. I had cousins and friends surrounding me. We prayed for them and continued to wait. Living in Utah, I'm kind of on my own. But I am not entirely alone. Too feel comfort, I actually went to Temple Square to feel the peace I was seeking. I called a brother from my mission to talk to him about it. He really helped me a lot on my mission, and I just needed to tell someone who wasn't family. As a great person he is, he reached out to his son who lived in SLC to come give me a blessing. While waiting for his son, I sat in front of the Christus statue. Christ's voice came overhead, and I was pierced to the heart. The Holy Ghost overcame me, and the words spoken are written in John 14:1-4. 1
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
I knew Matthew was going to be alright, but I didn't know that I would. I ended up crying on my friends shoulder. He just listened to me, but also reminded me of the truths I know of the plan of salvation. I was able to get a wonderful blessing from him and two elders. He was able to cheer me up.
I wanted to be strong for my family! I didn't know if I could or not. I wanted to bear their sorrows. I came to understand that I could, but I couldn't take it all on by myself. That is why Heavenly Father sent his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to atone for us. He didn't die just for our sins, but he died and rose again to show that there is more joy and more happiness through Him. I didn't have to be strong all by myself. Because we are rooted in the love of Christ, my family and I were able to console and lift eachother.
This past week, funeral arrangments were being prepared. I was able to get off work and head down to Arizona to be reunited with my family. It wasn't the best of circumstances, but it was still a joyful moment that I am grateful I could be there for. I dreaded having to cry so much! There were quite a few tears of sadness, but as we celebrated Matthew's life many were tears of joy. This little angel could return home to continue the work Heavenly Father needed him to do. My testimony of the plan of salvation is possible because of the Restoration of the gospel. I am so grateful Heavenly Father grants us a body, even if it is for a short while. I am so grateful my brother and sister in law were sealed in the temple for all time and eternity. We will see Matthew again, and it will be in the best of circumstances.
His life told by his father, Nathaniel Hudson Ely
Ashley and I had been trying for only a short while to start our family. I came home for a long day of work at my new job on Valentines' Day. Ashley told me in the cutest way we were expecting. She did this with a little care saying that now I would be getting ice water for two. She had found out three hours before I got home. I think it is the longest she has ever kept a secret.
We started preparing. During the first ultrasound we named him Baby Speck. We knew from the beginning he was ours. A few months later, we were so excited to find out we were having a boy. We were asked to see a high risk specialist to get some additional ultrasounds.
We found out that Matthew had Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HPLH) and Dextrocardia. HPLH is where the left side of the heart (the part that pumps blood through the lungs) was restricted due to thick walls in the heart. Dextrocardia is where the heart was on the right side of the chest. We studied someinformation but mostly waited for the doctors to help us. We knew that his life was going to be hard, and possibly very short. We rooted ourselves in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and primarily in the eternal plan of happiness that has been laid out and taught to us from an early age.
His name came to us while I was giving Ashley a bad time about the name she had previously chosen "Matthew Jonas". We all chuckled a little at the middle name Jonas. We started coming up with alternative middle names. I wanted something powerful, so I thought of the warrior vikings. We went through a few of those and I came across Thor. That got us thinking of superhero names. We both thought that Wolverine was cool, but Rich pointed out it may not be appropriate. We chose Logan since that is Wolverine's alias. Matthew Logan was the result of a short afternoon of deliberations.
We had a few false alarms, but we always grateful for the help and support that we received both from family and medical professionals. Saturday, October 13,2018, Matthew decided that he was ready for this world. He pushed and pushed and tried to get out. We went to St. Joseph's hoping that it was not yet time. He had been scheduled to come on Monday, the 15th. He had his own thoughts about that and wanted his future birthdays to be on a Friday, the 13th. We knew he was ours based on this type of attitude. The doctors prepared both emergency teams at St. Joseph's and Phoenix Children's Hospital.
It was time! He was born at 8:12pm. He was 6lbs. 12oz. and 19" long. This made him a heavier baby than his dad. He was declared well enough to go to Phoenix Children's. He was rushed there in an ambulance minutes after birth. I followed in my own car. A while later multiple doctors came to me sharing that the surgery was proving to be difficult. I would have to make a choice. His heart wall was too thick to penetrate with this surgery. I had to choose between asking the doctors to do a surgery that may not help at all or to have them do everything they can to allow us a short time with Matthew.
The Spirit whispered to me what I had to choose, but I did not want to accept it. After multiple prayers that seemed to stretch into hours of pleading and begging the Lord for another way, the Lord touched my heart and told me that Matthew had accomplished the mission he was sent here to do. His frail, perfect body was the only requirement that he needed to fulfill. I told the doctors and they prepared a room for us. Ashley was smuggled out of St. Joseph's and rushed to PCH to hold her perfect baby boy. I turned to all the resources I had to prepare to give Matthew his name.
Around 10:30pm that night, we were all reunited. He is the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. The moment Ashley started talking to him he opened his eyes and looked around the room, got comfortable in his mother's arms, and went back to sleep. He had an exciting day. After a little bit, I got to hold my son for the first time. I just talked with him about his family and all the things that I wanted to do with him. I gave hime his blessing and his name. I miss my baby boy.
Saturday turned into Sunday, we knew that it was time for him to return to his Heavenly Father. The doctors and nurses passed him back to Ashley and took away the machines that we prolonging his earthly stay. He grabbed onto Ashley's finger and didn't let go. He was ours for just a short time. We are grateful that he picked us. He passed from this world Sunday morning at 2:19am.
HIs mission on Earth was short, but in those six hours he taught me more about the love of Christ, listening to the Spirit, and the Eternal Plan of Happiness than I have ever known. I know that Matthew is one of God's most loyal children, and that He could only allow Matthew to be away from Him for a short time. I know that one day soon, Ashley and I will be able to raise him thankfully far away from all the darkness. I know that Matthew loves us and he knows we love him. During all of this, I remember that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He has chosen, and I know that Matthew Logan Ely chose us.
We love and miss you, our beautiful baby boy.
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