This web page is dedicated to my daughter "Gabriela Lael" who died shortly after birth on October 8, 1999 from a condition called "Potter's Syndrome", or Renal Agenesis as the more technical term. It basically means that Gabriela was conceived without kidneys and survived her nine months in my womb without any amniotic fluid. Potter's Syndrome is very rare and the chances of your baby being born with Potter's is 1/4000.

I will attempt to add some links to whatever I know about Potter's but there is not much out there. You can however e-mail me and I will be happy to share my experiences and what I know about Potter's Syndrome, as I spent the last four months of my pregnancy searching for any clues as to "what happened".

Despite knowing the outcome was terminal I decided to carry Gabriela full-term and let God's Will choose her final fate. I approached this part of my life with the love for my daughter and the support and love from my family and friends. I did not shy away from people who asked questions about my pregnancy, rather I faced them head-on and explained that my baby had Potter's and without a miracle her birth would be her death.

I found those with any faith in their hearts acknowledged and agreed in the continuation of my pregnancy with acceptance and belief that I was doing the right thing. Let me assure you that carrying full-term a terminally ill child is not easy, but if you have faith and love for your child you will welcome each day as a blessing. Each kick of my baby reminded me of her life and brought tears of sadness and joy to my eyes.

My pregnancy itself was filled with various pregnancy complications, but I would be willing to go through all of them again if only I could carry my daughter for a little while longer. Many people ask me how I could continue a pregnancy that I knew was "terminal" and how I can be so strong as I am through all that has happened. I can only answer one thing to you and that is "FAITH". God is my light and my strength. This pregnancy has led me back to God and I feel blessed to have found my way back to Him. I read an interesting quote the other day in a book that simply said "Faith is not meant to carry us around our problems, rather it is to carry us through them". I know now that is true!

I have added a detailed history of my pregnancy and the information that was discovered. If it may help someone out there, then God Bless. As I said before I would not change a thing that I did, and feel blessed for having carried my Angel Baby to full-term.

Dear God...   Can you hear me? Please, God. Do you hear my cries? The ones that echo pain deep within my mind and heart. She is gone, God. My little girl is dead. And I love her so. I've tried to pray, to seek and to beg Yet still, she is gone. I would have given my life for hers... I do not understand. You see, God, she left so suddenly. Without saying goodbye- or even hello. How can it be that she has changed my life so? How can it be that others think I should forget her so abruptly and go on with my life? How can I pretend that she did not exist? For her life and death has brought me on my knees, to You. And now, I seek the peace, which only Your midst can harbor To ease this overwhelming grief. But, still God, I feel cheated. I feel so very desperate for her presence. I never looked into her eyes I never told her how much she meant to me. I never kissed her gently with the smile of a proud mother, but only with tear burdened eyes. But you can God. Please, please tell her for me. For I know she is in Your care. Tell her that her beauty has left me many priceless gifts. Tell her that I think of her- Everyday, every hour, every moment. Tell her how deeply I love and miss her. Hold her in Your majestic arms, just for me, Lord. Rock her gently and whisper in her ear Tell her that her Mommy aches for her, still and always. For the only strength that remains is the strength which You grant me In knowing that You, and only You, Father Can love her the way that I do... Amen © 1999, by Joanne Cacciatore, an excerpt from "Dear Cheyenne" Do not reprint without permission Thanks Joanne for your permission to use this beautiful prayer! ~ Little Angels ~ When God calls little Angels to dwell with Him above We mortals sometime question the wisdom of His love, For no heartache compares with the death of one small child, Who does so much to make our world seem wonderful and mild. Perhaps God tires of calling the aged to his fold. So he picks a rose bud, before it can grow old. God knows how much we need them, and so He takes but a few, To make the land of Heaven more beautiful to view. Believing this is difficult, still somehow we must try. The saddest word mankind knows, will always be "goodbye". So when a little child departs, we who are left behind Must realize God loves children & angels are hard to find. ~Author Unknown~   ~ My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion ~ (words so true to my heart) Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you That is how I know you go on Far across the distance and spaces between us You have come to show you go on Near, far, wherever you are I believe that the heart does go on Once more, you open the door And you're here in my heart And my heart will go on and on Love can touch us one time and last for a lifetime And never let go till we're gone Love was when I loved you, one true time I hold to In my life we'll always go on Near, far, wherever you are I believe that the heart does go on Once more, you open the door And you're here in my heart And my heart will go on and on You're here, there's nothing I fear And I know that my heart will go on We'll stay forever this way You are safe in my heart And my heart will go on and on.

The Photo above was taken after we had the Portrait professionally Framed.

Please Click on Daniela Faith's Photo Book below which will take you to Our Earthly Angels Website.  We were Blessed with Daniela Faith on May 25th 2001. Christina Hope's coming soon.

Website Designed and Created for angel Gabriela Lael by
Daniela Faith's & Christina Hope's Mommy, Michele.

© Michele 1999 ~ 2006