Eus and Amenze Otte – Eru (Osaheruwnye Bradley)

On 11 March 2001 me and my wife experienced the saddest day of our life.  On that day my wife was 40 weeks and three days pregnant. Her water broke in the night and we went to the hospital for check up. After the check in the hospital we were sent home as everything appeared to be fine and there were no contractions. The hospital told us that in the afternoon we should come back to check the baby again. Within three days they were going to get the baby out, if it was not coming out by itself. We were thrilled and proudly said to each other “within three days we will have a baby!”

When we were home we tried to go to sleep but after 45 minutes I heard my wife screaming. I looked up and I saw blood everywhere on the bed and to the way to the bathroom. My wife shouted "I'm loosing the baby!". I ran to the phone and demanded an ambulance to take us back to the hospital. I could not believe anything serious was taking place but the whole situation appeared to me as a complete nightmare.

The ambulance came and when we arrived in the hospital the staff there could not find a heartbeat of the baby and they could not see anything move on the monitor. 

Our world collapsed, we cried but could not believe the baby was dead. Another doctor came in and confirmed there was no heartbeat activity of the baby. I totally broke down, fell down on the floor, screamed, cried, hyperventilated, I don't remember anything else then total sadness and disbelief, our baby had died!?

A few hours later my wife gave birth to our son named Eru (Osaheruwnye Bradley). The doctors who managed to get the baby out without a C section, presented a very nice and sweet boy to me. I was proud, he was 56 cm tall but I couldn’t be happy. Eru was lifeless.

We spent two days together with Eru in a separate room in the hospital. Sometimes it looked as if he was just asleep but instead of keeping him warm, we had to put ice to his little body. On the third day in the hospital we allowed the doctors to check him thoroughly. From this we learned that Eru was perfectly healthy but had died from Vasa Previa.

We went home with Eru and the three of us stayed in our house for one night. The next day, Eru’s funeral ceremony took place amongst family. We carried him in a white basket.

I wish it was all just a bad dream. I cannot believe we lost such a strong and healthy boy. How can we ever accept this great loss. Eru, we love you so much. You will stay in our hearts forever.

Eru's father