When I was young, I had a blessing from the Patriarch of our Stake. Paraphrased, he stated that I would have experiences hard to understand as blessings, then he broke down and cried for five minutes before he got himself together.

Robin Elizabeth Marsh seemed to be on the upswing. She had a very positive checkup (and complete multihour physical) on August 26. She died in her sleep this morning, August 31, 1997. She felt so good in our arms, then she was gone and we are so empty.

I thought I knew pain before, but this is worse.

Stephen R. Marsh
http://adrr.com/living/
SMarsh@adrr.com

Entries created before Robin died of a fatal heart arrhythmia:

• The Original Robin Elizabeth Marsh FAQ
• The Robin Elizabeth Marsh FAQ Part Two [the updates, corrections and links for more information]
• How is Robin?. [When we still had hope].//Update added covering her death.
• On-line journal, current entry Summer-Fall

Material added following Robin's death:

• On-Line Journal Entries (for everyone who wants to know "how are you doing"). Updated April, 2003 "A New Year."
• Win Marsh's 1997 Women's Conference Address. My wife's story, in her words.
• Link to music (IE) or (NN)
• Poetry
• Link to my favorite sophisticated religious folk singer: The CD "She Believes" by Felicia Sorensen .

Robin

I have a dream of a little girl playing with Win, my wife, under a tree.  Her name is Robin, Robin Elizabeth Marsh.  She was a child we wanted so very much.  She was a child we hoped for so very much.  She was born with an unexpected heart problem (we had specifically asked for problems like that to be looked for on the ultrasounds and were told not to worry), but the doctor caught it well before there were any complications.  She had to have a dangerous surgery, but she survived it and was thriving.

She had just learned to smile -- real smiles, the kind a baby wants to get out, but is still learning to get the face to produce.  Caring for her was a struggle, but we had rearranged our lives around her -- we wanted her so much.  This time it was going to work out, we were going to have healing and renewal in our lives, after such long trial and trouble.

Then she died in her sleep, without any warning at all.

I've collected this material for everyone who had questions.  So many people know us.  Win and I serve on state and local boards, she spoke to about three thousand women at a conference this summer -- and they could all see she was very pregnant, and we told everyone about this miracle baby to be.

There is a FAQ I prepared to let people know how things were going during the surgeries and such and my Journal entries (or some of them) about how things have been since.

I still dream of a little girl playing under a tree.

We only part to meet again
Though mighty boundless waves may sever
Remembrance oft shall bring thee near
And I will with thee go forever
And oft at midnights silent hour
When brilliant planets shall guide the ocean
Thy name shall rise to heaven's highest star
And mingle with my soul's devotion

[Often attributed to Edgar Allen Poe but actually translated from the Arabic by Tani Jantsang]