My husband Miguel & I took our 10 months old Angel, Elena Renee to see her grandparents in Mexico for the first time. (DH from Mexico). It was so cold there at night, and they don't have furnaces, so I had her sleeping with me so we could snuggle up and keep warm. My DH stayed a couple houses down at his sisters so we wouldn't be cramped in the bed.

Well, 01/08 I laid Elena down to sleep at 9:00 pm, and went back to the kitchen with my DH. I went back to check on her to 10:00 and she was sleeping "like an angel", and then I went back at 11:00 to go to sleep, and I couldn't find her in the bed, and I was frantically searching the covers for her, and then I saw her. She had slid down between the bed and the wall, and I pulled her lifeless little body up to me. I didn't realize anything was wrong and I kept screaming her name, then I ran screaming to my in-law's bedroom and gave them my baby and told them something was wrong with her, and all I could think about is that I had to find my husband because he could fix this.

I went running through the dark night down the street screaming at the top of my lungs. My husband couldn't get the gate open so he jumped over it (it's about 7 ft high, just goes to show the strength you have when you need it). I fell in the street and he went running by me and went to the house. I got up and ran after him. He handed me the baby and we drove as fast as we could to the hospital. I still hadn't realized at this point that there was no hope. I ran into the hospital screaming for somebody to help my baby, and the doctor rushed down and took her from me. He made us leave the room. It felt like hours he was with her, but I think the entire incident only took about 1 hr total. It was the longest hour of my life.

The doctor said it was bronchio asphixiation from acid reflux. He said she seemed to have vomited and the food didn't come out, but instead went into her lungs. Oh God how I wish this were a fictional book I'm writing. It is true. I love my little Elena, now and forever. May she rest in the hands of the Lord.