8 months together: A story of love

DENVER - It had always been on Gina Harris' heart to be a Mom.

"I knew right away that I was pregnant," she said. "I just had that feeling."

When Rob and Gina Harris found out they were expecting their first child they say were overwhelmed with gratitude and filled with thoughts and plans for their future family.

"We had all these visions and dreams for what our baby would grow up to be," said Gina.

Rob Harris said, "At our 20 week ultrasound we found out that he was a boy so I went out to the Nike store and had to buy a little sports outfit."

An ultrasound also revealed a problem about their unborn son, David.

"I didn't have amniotic fluid because David most likely did not have kidneys," said Gina.

Doctors explained that amniotic fluid is critical for lungs to develop. The condition that the Harris' son had is called Potter's Syndrome. It is extremely rare and extremely serious.

"The doctor told us that the babies usually die of respiratory failure after they are born," said Gina.

The doctor explained that as long as the baby was inside Gina's womb he'd be able to grow and thrive. Gina could provide everything her son needed. The question was: Could their son live on his own?

Gina Harris said her mind filled with thoughts and fears.

"I thought about how it would be to give birth to a baby that might not survive," she said. "I thought about being pregnant and people excitedly asking me about the baby and the future and me always knowing the future was so uncertain. I was scared."

"The doctor said that the majority of women with the diagnosis like this would terminate the pregnancy," said Rob. "And as he started to say that Gina said, 'No.' She just stopped him."

Gina says that in her heart she was certain of one thing. She was already a mom. She says God had given her a child and she already felt a deep connection with her son.

It was in that moment she made a sacrifice only a mother could make.

"I decided to hold tightly to my faith and push through my fear," said Gina. "I decided to put myself aside and know that this baby has a life right now and I am meant to be his mother right now."

Her husband added, "We decided we were going to enjoy our time with our son even if he is in Gina's womb and we can't see him yet, he's still alive and he's still kicking."

They named him David and cherished each moment as he grew. They focused on living in the present and not focusing on the uncertainty of the future.

"We prayed for our son," said Rob. "We talked to him and a couple of times he even responded to my voice."

Gina added, "Every night before we'd go to bed we'd play music for him."

The Harrises prayed for a miracle.

"We knew that only a miracle would help him live. Something that rang clear in my mind is, 'your life will have purpose and it will have meaning,'" Gina said.

The meaning of David's life was felt right away and in some unlikely places. One of those places was on the high school football field of Front Range Christian School, where Rob Harris is the coach.

During a big game against Cripple Creek the players said they were drawing on David's strength.

"I was like wanting to cry every touchdown we scored because the guys were like, 'That was for David, that was for David,'" said Rob.

Gina coaches the high school cheerleading squad and saw that they felt a connection to her unborn son too.

"It was humbling to see how this little baby, who wasn't even born yet, could soften the hearts of teenagers and really help them see the world in a different way," said Gina.

Many couples hope the time during a pregnancy goes by quickly. The focus is on the birth. For the Harrises, the time went too quickly.

After 34 weeks together, David was coming.

As the Harrises went to St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, they felt a flood of emotions.

"I was excited to see him but I wasn't excited to have him because I didn't know for sure what the outcome would be," said Gina. "Of course we prayed for a miracle but we knew we had to accept whatever God's will was for David's life."

There was a steady and soothing rhythm in the labor room at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver. It was David's heartbeat being monitored. It was strong and steady, at about 150 beats per minute.

Gina and Rob say that sound was assurance that their son was still with them.

David Paul Harris was delivered at 3:25 in the morning, but passed away.

Seeing their son and holding him, the Harrises say they felt peace about all they had gone through.

"We held him and like any mom and dad we examined his features," said Rob. "We were amazed to see how dark and thick his hair was."

"I remember how soft his skin felt," said Gina. "He was perfectly formed. I remember how soft his skin felt, those little things that even a picture cannot ever capture, so I made sure I remembered those things."

They had six hours with their son.

"I found some comfort in the fact that he went from safe in my womb to God's arms," said Gina.

The Harrises say their faith has given them the strength and perspective they have needed to get through this time.

"We have a choice. We can be bitter or we can choose to appreciate what were given," Gina said. "To actually carry a baby and be a mother is the greatest gift that anyone could have. I am confident that one day we will see David again and we'll get to know our son in heaven."

David Paul Harris taught his parents that love isn't measured in time.

"I held him and he was born and he lived and he had an impact on people," said Gina. "Most of all he had an impact on me. His life was so short but his life had great meaning."

David taught his parents and so many others that love simply is. Love always will be.

"After him being born and after seeing him and holding him I would do it all over again," said Gina. "Just to see his face and to know my son. Just to be his mother. You bond with your baby when you are pregnant, but to actually meet your baby even knowing the outcome, I would still do it again."

The Harris family says it is grateful to the Denver-based non-profit organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

The group's photographers helped them document the pregnancy and also took beautiful pictures of David after his birth. They say they will always cherish those pictures.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of nearly 3,000 volunteer professional photographers in the United States and eight International countries. At a family's request, a NILMDTS affiliated photographer will come to your hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session.

To find out more about NILMDTS or to support their efforts click here: www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org