Hello, this is Marcus. I am Thomas and Eli’s dad. Just wanted to share that we will be going to pick up Eli’s ashes today and going to see Eli’s planted tree. Thomas, Eli’s twin brother, will be coming along. Thomas is a bundle of joy and has the biggest and best smile I know, always reminds me of his grandpa Tocher, my dad.
We lost Eli 4 months into the pregnancy. We decided on the name Eli shortly after because it means “ascended one”. I knew I wanted to name one of the boys Thomas, and the day we found out at the ultrasound that Eli’s little heart had stopped beating Tamzen, Thomas and Eli’s mom, agreed that we now had to name our surviving boy Thomas, because it means twin. Tamzen’s name also means “one of twins”
On what is Thomas’ birthday now, March 12th, Tamzen had gone into labour at 3:30am at 33 weeks 5 days. At just over 6 weeks premature at 11:47am Thomas was born at 4lbs 3oz and was brought straight to the NICU at Seton hospital where he was taken care of by the amazing doctors and nurses there for 3 weeks. I went with Thomas to the NICU. Shortly after Thomas’ arrival the doctors removed Eli from Tamzen. We don’t know exactly what happened. With twin pregnancies and any multiple pregnancy there are complications and added risks.
We don’t have any pictures of Eli, we know it was likely the boys were fraternal as they did not share a sac, which made it less risky that Thomas would face any more risks at the loss of Eli. We have many pictures of Thomas and many amazing memories already only months into his life, so we have glimpses at what Eli would have been like.
We are so thankful for all our family and friends and again for the staff at Seton hospital that took such good care of us among the bitter sweet situation.
