Newborn's Late Twin Brother Honored in Bittersweet Photo Shoot
Motherhood is something many women dream of. For some, the journey there can sometimes be long and heartbreaking.
For 39-year-old Heather Bowman, having children of her own was something she longed for. Though she didn’t have a significant other in her life, she wasn’t going to let that keep her from her dream.
“My journey has been a long one,” Bowman told Metro UK. “As I was approaching 36, I was still single and my dream was to always be a mom.
“I was not willing to sacrifice becoming a mother because I had not found a husband yet,” she said.
Bowman went on to explain the many complications involved over the years of trying to become pregnant.
From miscarriages to fertility treatments, Bowman faced so much. But even when she learned she had what’s called a unicornuate uterus — a condition that left her with half a uterus, one fallopian tube and one ovary –Bowman still believed she would one day carry children.
“The diagnosis was frightening for me, but my specialist was absolutely confident that I could carry a baby to term,” she told Metro.
When Bowman became pregnant with her twins, James and Lettie, she was nervous. She had already lost a set of twins at 16 weeks gestation and was afraid it might happen again.
The day soon came when Bowman had a 17-week ultrasound. Tragically, only one heartbeat was found. Her son James hadn’t survived.
“I was devastated to hear that my son was no longer with us,” Bowman said, according to Metro UK. “I knew I was going to have to carry him until I delivered my daughter.”
The twins were born at 36 weeks gestation. Bowman says her daughter’s cry brought so much relief.
So much grief and joy overcame her at once. When Bowman contacted Jessica Young, the photographer had a special idea in mind to honor Lettie’s twin brother.
“This sweet girl visited me at my studio a couple weeks ago,” Young wrote on Instagram.
“Her twin brother James passed away at 18 weeks gestation. We wanted a photo to honor their twin bond and James.”
The result is stunning. A beautiful tribute to James and so sweet to see little Lettie looking over at her brother’s angel wings.
“All Lettie could do was look over to where her brother would have been. I couldn’t help but feel he was lying there, letting her know he was there and that he is always with her,” Bowman said.
We have a feeling this photo will inspire many more like it. What a wonderful memory this sweet mama and her baby girl will cherish forever.
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