Member-only story
When Death occurs before Birth
Coping with the reverse Circle of Life
Some of us might remember that an ancient Maya Prophecy had predicted the end of the World on 21st December 2012.
The deadline had passed without a whimper. My husband and I laughed as we leafed through the newspaper headlines, most of which were about this failed prophecy.
We discussed last-minute Christmas shopping as we awaited our appointment time in the obstetrician’s waiting room. I was 34 weeks pregnant with our first child. We were excited to welcome our son into the World soon.
But, precisely at 11:32 am on 23rd December 2012, in Bangkok, Thailand, this prophecy did come true.
Two days after the World was supposed to have come to an end. Two days before Christmas. Two weeks before my EDD — the Estimated Date of Delivery. Two words that my Doctor uttered, “bad news”, ended our World that day.
“Bad news,” the Doctor repeated with a sense of finality. “There is no heartbeat. I’m so sorry.” His hands stopped moving over my distended stomach.
I was finding it difficult to breathe. “Try again!… on another machine…Pump up the volume…it’s a mistake…”
Averting his eyes from my panic-stricken face, the Doctor interrupted, “I’m afraid it’s not a…
