Gili Joins the Family

Although Oma died before meeting her, the youngest grandchild in the family, Gili, was born today, November 24th to Mike & Shlomit.
Never was Oma more absent than the moment I walked out of the operating room with Gili, taking her to the 'baby gallery'.
Of all the people I was to phone to break the wonderful news, Oma was to have been the first, to hear of her newest granddaughter.
But of course, she wasn't. Nor the second, nor even the last. Because I can't phone Oma with good news anymore - or any news, come to think of it.
While Oma was looking forward to Gili's birth very much, she left us before she could meet Gili and get to know her. And smell that wonderful smell that newborns have - the smell of infinite hope and promise, of a whole life ahead of them, where not even the first page has yet been written.
Oma will never meet Gili - nor Gili Oma. And that mutual loss is heartbreaking.
Like the phoenix reborn, new life springs from the ashes
Rest in peace, live in joy