Our Tribute Poem to our Firstborn Son, Joshua Milagro

We wrote this and read it at Joshua's funeral service today:

Joshua Milagro, our precious firstborn son,
Your life was taken from us before it had begun.
Just 25 short weeks before you came to birth
And 67 minutes you lived upon this Earth.

Five long years we waited for your mummy to conceive
When we learned that she was pregnant we hardly could believe.
In the first twelve weeks of wonder our joy just overflowed,
Until one tragic Wednesday your sack it did explode!

The doctors told us plainly that you were going to die.
They promised just a few days before we’d say goodbye.
But to everyone’s amazement and to our utter pride and joy,
Your little heart kept beating, our courageous fighter boy.

The name ‘Joshua’ means saviour and that’s the role you played
The fact you kept on living meant that in the womb you stayed.
You gave your brother Daniel a fighting chance to live,
The most amazing present that a big brother could give.

When the contractions started the doctors made us choose:
Should we hold you as you died, or let them see what they could do?
Not wanting you to suffer, we left it in their hands
But you came out looking stronger than anyone had planned.

For an hour in the NICU they tried to help you breathe
But your lungs were just too fragile for that target to achieve.
Once all hope was over, we held you as you died
We’ve never known pain like it, oh how we have cried!

As we cuddled you in your blue hat, your face all squished and bruised,
Your countenance displayed a look that was somewhat bemused.
It seemed that you were telling us, in your own unique way,
If this was what this world was like, you would not choose to stay.

Dear Joshua, our precious boy, we’ve learned a lot from you.
You did not hold on to this Earth, preferring heaven’s view.
We pray that we, still living here, would seek to do the same,
Fixing our eyes on things unseen until our crown we claim.

Your grannie, Jane, has gone before two months ahead of you.
Before she died she said she would have loved to cuddle you.
It is a joy for us to know despite the fact you’re gone,
That you are in your grannie’s arms – we’ll see you before long.

This heart-wrenching ordeal has opened eyes to see
A new appreciation of the love God has for me.
That he’d allow his Son to die to save me from my sin
Choosing to thus endure such pain, I scarce can take it in.

Almighty God we consecrate to you our firstborn son.
We do not understand your ways, but pray “Your will be done”.
In recent months, our Shepherd King, you’ve led us through deep pain.
We trust you, Lord, for you are good. Your praises we proclaim!