Dying husband thought he would never hold his baby—until his pregnant wife made a life-changing decision
Life often takes unexpected turns, and sometimes those twists bring both joy and deep sorrow. In a story of love, loss, and resilience, one family faced a heartbreaking reality just days after the birth of their daughter. A father could only hold his newborn daughter for a few minutes before his health took a rapid turn in the hospital, per ABC News.
In 2012, Diane Aulger and her husband Mark, from The Colony, Texas, were eagerly awaiting the birth of their fifth child. Mark, who had recently been told he had beaten cancer, was looking forward to spending more time with his growing family. However, their joy was short-lived when Mark was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis due to the chemotherapy treatments he had undergone. According to a report by the National Library of Medicine, from 2020 to 2022, there were 67,843 deaths in the U.S. where idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was listed as either the main cause (38,869 deaths, 57.3%) or a contributing factor (28,974 deaths, 42.7%). Of these IPF-related deaths, 67.3% were among those aged 75 or older, 58.5% were men, 90.4% were white, and 89.6% were non-Hispanic.
Despite hopes for long-term treatment, on January 16, the doctors informed the family that Mark had only a week to live. On January 18, 2012, Mark was there in the delivery room, despite his severe condition, to witness the birth of their daughter, Savannah. Though his oxygen levels were critically unstable, Mark held his baby girl for 45 minutes, a moment that would become their only memory together. "Him and I just cried that whole time," Diane said, reflecting on the bittersweet moment.
Sadly, Mark's health deteriorated quickly. The following day, he could no longer hold Savannah, and he slipped into a coma. Diane shared, "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." Even in his unconscious state, Mark’s bond with his daughter remained clear.
Mark passed away on January 23, just days after Savannah was born. Diane remembers him fondly, saying, "Mark was a very funny guy. My kids still tell jokes how they would when he was around. He would have been a wonderful daddy to Savannah." Though their time together was tragically short, the Aulger family continues to honor Mark's memory and the love he shared with them all.
In another cancer and childbirth-related story, a woman’s unwavering faith and determination helped her navigate an incredibly tough journey. Jade Devis, diagnosed with Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer during her pregnancy, was advised by doctors to terminate her pregnancy due to the risks to both her and her baby’s health. Despite the overwhelming odds, she decided to continue the pregnancy and underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and other treatments while staying hopeful. With the support of her medical team, Jade gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Bradley, in July 2019. She was cancer-free by the end of her treatment and is incredibly grateful for the care and encouragement she received. "My baby boy is my miracle child. It is surreal to remember that my pregnancy had an element of extraordinary fear. I am blessed when I look at my son and I cannot ask for more than that," she shared.