It was his wish to meet his daughter before he died.
Mark Aulger and his wife, Diane Aulger, knew that Mark did not have much time to live. Before Mark passed away, Diane wanted him to meet their child.
She was scheduled to give birth in two weeks, but they feared Mark wouldn't be around that long. So Diane decided to induce her labor and give birth to her child two weeks before her due date, and on January 18, 2012, Savannah Aulger was born, according to ABC News.
When tiny Savannah was placed in Mark's arms, he was unable to hold back his tears. He "cried, and he just looked very sad," Diane said. Mark died five days later from complications related to his cancer treatment, added NBC News.
The 52-year-old Texas man was diagnosed with colon cancer in April 2011. He underwent surgery and, as a precaution, six months of chemotherapy. After that, it seemed like the cancer was gone, and the couple rejoiced.
Mom Induces Labor So Dying Dad Can Meet Baby
— Lereng THY Will 🎄 (@Lereng_) October 25, 2014
Diane Aulger and her husband Mark were recently rejoicing to learn... http://t.co/9Z4gR5ZrrL
But in November 2011, Mark began having trouble breathing. By January 3, 2012, he was really sick and had to be taken to the emergency room. His wife said he was told the chemotherapy had caused him to develop pulmonary fibrosis, which causes scarring and thickening in the lungs. At the time, the family was hoping for a miracle.
"He thought he'd be coming home in a few days with an oxygen tank," said Diane. But doctors told Diane on January 16 that he was only going to worsen, and had a maximum of five to six days left to live, before which he wanted to see their daughter.
Diane, who initially had plans of a home birth agreed to induce labor and the hospital staff arranged a larger-than-normal labor room so Mark could be with Diane throughout. "Our beds were side by side," Diane said.
Mark held his daughter for about 45 minutes after she was born. For the next couple of days, he was only able to hold her a couple of times for a minute or so as he was so tired. She said he slipped into a coma on January 21 and died two days later.
But even in a coma, it seemed like Mark was aware of what was happening around him. If she cried, he would shake his head and moan. I put her on him when he was in the coma a few times and his hand would move toward her."
Mark would have been a good father to Savannah, had he been here, but nevertheless, the girl will grow up basking in the love of her father from heaven.
References:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-woman-induced-labor-dying-husband-hold-baby/story?id=15555818
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/induced-labor-lets-dying-texas-man-see-daughter-flna36406
Cover Image Source: YouTube | The Doctors
