In my work as a baker, I'm so blessed to be a part of so many celebrations - birthdays, weddings, baby showers, thank you's and 'just thinking about you's. In many ways this cake, made in honor of Shelby Morgan Hercula was no different.....and yet it was different in every way.
This 3 tier cake pop cake, with its three shades of pink and 3 flavors, was made for a celebration of Shelby's short and cherished life. Shelby was born and passed away just one week shy of her June due date. There really aren't any words that I can write to capture her sweet parents unspeakable grief.
In their sadness, her parents decided to do something unexpected to honor her and to share the sweet memories of the daughter they lost before they really had a chance to get to know....they decided to have a celebration of her life, for the many family and friends who had eagerly anticipated her birth, who loved her, and love her still.
Shelby's celebration was filled with all the things a little girl loves. Lots of pink. Balloons. Flowers. Candy. Stuffed animals....and yes, cake:
Her family also decorated the room with the wisps of tiny memories of her, ultrasound pictures, decorations from her room and some beautiful portraits from a wonderful company her parents asked that I mention here: Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS). NILMDTS is a non profit company that comes to hospitals and hospices to provide free photographs to parents who suffer the loss of an infant. On the wall of the room where Shelby's Celebration was held, her parents hung a beautiful picture and tribute to her:
I know its hard to read due to the glare, but here is what it says:
I never got to hear you laugh, you never saw me cry. I didn't get a chance to say "hello", you never said "goodbye." I didn't think I could feel so sad, lost and forelorn. I never knew God chose his Angels, before some of them were born.
Your life was short yet special, I shared it all exclusively. I felt you breathe, I felt you kick, you were alive inside of me.
Every Baby is an Angel and every Angel is divine. God needed one in Heaven, he came down and took mine. And although we are not together, we're not really apart, for you will always occupy a space, deep within my heart.
Time has begun to ease my pain. It's only some days now I cry when I think I wish I could have said "hello" and heard you say "goodbye"
Please keep this sweet family in your thought and prayers as they journey through difficult days and weeks ahead....