We have been thru a lot for the sake of our little granddaughter. We had to fight hard in court for her to be recognized as a life, a real person and not just some blob or fetus. It was a challenge. Ashleigh left to protect that baby because she believed that little life deserved a chance. I must have wrote over a hundred emails/ letters trying to be sure the laws on Fetal Homicide are preserved. I had abortionist get ugly with me about a woman's right to choose. To them it was all political. And on the other side, I contacted many right to life groups for help and not a one responded. My grand child's death was not political enough for them, I guess. Really is sad. But we won all the way to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Thank you, God. But the worst yet best validation came from the judge during Joshua Scott's sentencing. I saw little Patience die on the sonogram. I described it in the best detail I could for the court. What I saw was pain in that final moment. No one will ever convince me that is not what Patience experienced at death. People want to argue when a baby in the womb can feel, well I know for sure at 16 wks she felt. A part of the evidence introduced at sentencing was of coarse autopsy photos. I did not look at them but we discover one was of Patience on the metal autopsy table. The Judge acknowledge that between my statement and that picture, which very much disturbed him, and Oklahoma's laws that she was a real person, a baby. And during the sentencing he when he got past Chad and Ashleigh he said, and for the unborn child identified as Patience Lynn.......that meant everything to me. All this time for the last year and a half in court they would just say unborn child. But she had a name, a beautiful name picked out by her mother. He honored her life by using her name.
Now in a few more weeks I will be blessed by the arrival of my second grandchild. Patience will alway be my first. A little girl! I can not wait to see and hold this Grandbaby. But there are moments were nothing helps the things you lost. One person can not replace the other.
On New Year's Eve people reflect on the past year and try to start anew. But every News Years Eve from this day forward I will spend reflecting on Patience Lynn. Will she be anything like I have imagined in my minds eye......I don't know. But oh won't it be the greatest adventure the day I meet her and find out. Till then I love you, Patience Lynn and I love and miss your mommy everyday!