ABBEY AHERN

I've been married to my husband Robert for 16 years, and in that time we have been blessed with 5 incredible little girls; Dylan, Harper Lou, Annie, Iva, and Frankie.

Our middle daughter Annie was born with a terminal birth defect. We were aware before she was born that she was not made for this earth, but it was very clear to us that she had a purpose. Annie was born on the morning of June 26, 2013, and passed away that very same evening after living a beautiful 14 hours and 58 minutes. Her little light may have gone out that day, but not before she was able to pass it on.

Giving is a large part of Annie’s legacy. When Annie died, she made history as Oklahoma’s very first newborn infant organ donor. Annie was able to donate several of her organs for research purposes. Because she was the very first infant to do so in this state, protocols were put in place that made the process easier for other parents like us. Annie gave the ultimate gift, the gift of life.

Annie has changed our family in so many ways. Our older girls were able to meet and spend time with their sister on the day she was born, and I will forever cherish those precious memories. Our younger girls will always hear about their big sister Annie and how she changed the world. We are so proud of all 5 of our daughters.

I documented my journey over the years through writing. The story begins when we received Annie's diagnosis, and still continues today. I wrote a new post anytime something was on my heart, and it is my in depth look at grief, love, loss, and recovery. If you are interested in learning more about Annie's life and her impact, I invite you to read her story.