Our dear Fulton Joseph Hood was delivered on April 2, 2021 at 12:50 am. \u00a0Fulton’s eyes were closed. \u00a0He looked so perfect and peaceful. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Open to the public<\/strong>: A funeral service will be held at St. Jude in Dunlap, Illinois on Saturday, April 10th at 11 am CST. \u00a0All wishing to attend are invited. \u00a0We will also have a livestream link for anyone unable to come. \u00a0Additional details to be posted later this week.<\/p>\n Friends,<\/p>\n Some of you may have just recently learned about Fulton while some have been following our story for months. \u00a0 All of you have been joining with us in prayer. \u00a0This has truly been a journey of faith, hope and love. \u00a0We are so grateful to have shared this journey with each of you.<\/p>\n As many of you know, Fulton was due to be born on March 31, 2021. \u00a0However on March 31, with Elise not experiencing any changes associated with labor, an ultrasound was conducted. \u00a0It was determined from the ultrasound that Fulton’s heart was no longer beating. \u00a0After crying and praying we determined to go home to be together with all of our children. \u00a0Together as a family we cried, we prayed and we smiled thinking about all of the joy and blessings that Fulton has brought us.<\/p>\n On April 1, 2021, we would go to OSF for labor to be induced. \u00a0There were numerous delays on April 1. \u00a0 Our plan was to go in at 9 am to get the process started early. \u00a0However it wasn’t until around 4 pm that a bed became available. \u00a0There were so many emotions on that day. \u00a0From moments of grief, to sadness to disbelieve. It was frustrating waiting and waiting. \u00a0But as we focused on the physical journey we also were mindful of the spiritual journey. \u00a0After all, this was Holy Week. \u00a0And we were so thankful to God for giving us every extra moment possible with Fulton. \u00a0During the entire pregnancy Elise and I were determined to make sure Fulton would be surrounded with as much love and joy as possible. \u00a0The end of his life would be different. \u00a0Respecting the dignity of the human person, God’s creation, requires love and joy. \u00a0Of course we grief but we do so mindfully and in thanksgiving of the time we cherished.<\/p>\n Once the labor began it was probably around 9 pm<\/strong>. \u00a0The Doctor and medical team suggested that delivery might begin anywhere from 6 to 24 hours. \u00a0It was suggested that we try to rest. \u00a0We prayed a Divine Mercy Chaplet and said a number of other prayers. \u00a0 Elise had a table setup next to her hospital bed with prayer cards and some really cool relics (a number of which had been sent to us by people who read about Fulton).<\/p>\n We each dozed off sometime around 11:30 pm. \u00a0 Next around 12:30 am Elise woke me and said “Royce I think you need to call the nurse.” \u00a0 I was half-asleep and started pressing the little button on her hospital bed (it turns out I was pressing some bed control button and not the button to call the nurse). \u00a0A moment later Elise said “Fulton was coming!” \u00a0I jumped up and hit the call button located on the wall. \u00a0Our nurse came right in. \u00a0 It wasn’t a minute or two later when Fulton was delivered without any real pain or issue. \u00a0He just sort of arrived as if he had been carried forth with grace and by the hands of angels.<\/p>\n Fulton was delivered at 12:50 am on April 2. \u00a0 Elise had prayed, that if it was God’s will, there might be some connection with Fulton’s delivery and Good Friday. \u00a0Prayers answered! \u00a0 Fulton weighed just 2lbs-14.4 ounces. \u00a0He was 12.5 inches long. \u00a0Fulton had the cutest little nose and chubby little cheeks. \u00a0He was so precious. \u00a0 The nurses swaddled his little body and laid him on Elise’s chest. \u00a0We held our little boy, cried and prayed. \u00a0We will share a few pictures of Fulton in the near future.<\/p>\n Shortly after Fulton was born Father Henehan, the pastor from our church, St. Jude Parish in Dunlap, Illinois, came to pray and speak with us. \u00a0It must have been around 1:30 am in the morning. \u00a0His words, his blessing and his compassion were exactly what Elise and I needed in that moment. \u00a0God has a plan. \u00a0Fulton’s life has already had such an incredible impact on countless people. \u00a0We pray his life and our story can lift up others and demonstrate the power of God’s love. \u00a0And I must add that we have been so blessed with such as wonderful faith-community. \u00a0After Father left Elise and I contemplated what would happen next.<\/p>\n It was clear by Fulton\u2019s skin tone that he had been gone for a number of days. \u00a0A few medical professionals suggested that Fulton might have been passed away about a week earlier. \u00a0This is where my brain went into overdrive. \u00a0\u201cA week!\u201d I thought. \u00a0How could Fulton have been gone a week? \u00a0 After all, it was almost exactly one-week earlier when we captured our only 3D ultrasound of Fulton (at 39 weeks).<\/p>\n Throughout Elise\u2019s pregnancy, with low to no amniotic fluid, it was difficult to obtain high quality ultrasound imaging. \u00a0But the 39-week ultrasound was incredible and for some reason higher resolution than the prior ultrasounds. \u00a0This is also the ultrasound when we had captured the most astonishing image I have ever seen. \u00a0An image appears next to Fulton that to us clearly resembles Our Lady of Grace. \u00a0The image from the 39-week ultrasound also resembles the picture of Our Lady of Grace that is on Elise\u2019s rosary. \u00a0The very same rosary Elise sleeps with every night and that she held over Fulton during the course of her pregnancy.<\/p>\n Reflecting on the promises of the Rosary I think it’s logical that the 39-week ultrasound screenshot was meant as a little grace. \u00a0We are confident Fulton had a special escort on his way to Heaven.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n After Fulton was delivered we took turns holding him. \u00a0The staff at OSF was incredibly kind and helpful. \u00a0Elise and I had planned for Fulton to be born alive. We planned to baptize him. \u00a0We planned to dress him. \u00a0We had hoped for a miracle with his complete healing. \u00a0We also planned to make as many memories as possible while we comforted and held our little boy. \u00a0 We didn’t end up with the miracle we wanted but we did get the miracle that we needed. Fulton went from the womb to the arms of the Lord. \u00a0The nurses helped us to make a little clay cast from his feet. \u00a0 We also were able to obtain beautiful little footprints of our baby boy.<\/p>\n Our children and family came to meet Fulton around 8 am on April 2. \u00a0Elise and I debated wether we should allow our children to even come at all. \u00a0Fulton’s skin-tone continued to change minute after minute. \u00a0However, we made the decision to wrap Fulton’s body and expose only a small section of his face for our kids to see. \u00a0Our children, Fulton’s siblings have been with Elise and I every step of the way. \u00a0From learning at 20 weeks that their brother had challenges to learning just 2 days earlier that their brother had gone to Heaven. \u00a0We felt it was important, particularly for our oldest children, to have closure and to say hello and goodbye to their brother.<\/p>\n When the children arrived I spoke with the oldest ones in the hallway outside of Elise’s room. \u00a0I wanted to prepare them that this baby would look different than the other babies they have seen. \u00a0They handled it like pros. \u00a0We cried together, hugged and then the most incredible thing happened. \u00a0Ava (7), Gabriel (6) and Augustine (4) all smiled at their brother Fulton. \u00a0Leo (3) and Royce Aaron (1) were a bit too young to understand what it was all about. \u00a0But we managed to capture a few pictures (thanks to Elise’s sisters). \u00a0Elise’s parents and siblings were also able to join us. \u00a0It was truly a beautiful time to be together as a family.<\/p>\n After the visit with family ended it became more and more apparent that the time we had with Fulton was coming to an end. \u00a0Our photographer from the organization Lay Me Down to Sleep<\/em> arrived and took a few pictures for us. \u00a0Afterwards Elise and I hugged, cried and decided it was time to let him go. \u00a0<\/p>\n Letting go of Fulton’s body was the hardest thing either one of us have never done. \u00a0Both of us were so exhausted from not sleeping more than few minutes over the past few days. \u00a0We also wanted to respect the dignity of Fulton’s body. \u00a0 Still, letting go of Fulton was nearly impossible. \u00a0Relying on our love, each other and on our faith we called the nurse to say it was time to let him go. \u00a0<\/p>\n We are certain that Fulton is in good hands in his Heavenly home. \u00a0But there was something so unnatural about watching his little body being carted away. \u00a0However our pain is nothing compared to the pain our Lord suffered for all of us on the cross. \u00a0Further, we reflect on how Mary must have suffered watching her son die on the cross and how she did so in complete and humble submission to God’s will. \u00a0So to have Elise and I submitted to God’s will during this journey. \u00a0<\/p>\n The sorrow we felt during this Holy Week was in fact an opportunity for immense grace. \u00a0You see, we are confident in the greatest promise and greatest gift of all time which is the Resurrection. \u00a0While we mourn the loss of a son we give thanks for the time we had with Fulton. \u00a0 He was a miracle. To be clear there are still moments when we are overwhelmed with grief, questions about “what-if” and sadness. \u00a0But love and joy conquer all negative feelings. For every moment that we struggle we find peace in our faith. \u00a0I cannot stress enough how much prayer, fasting, and love have helped us through this journey. \u00a0We thank you for your prayers.<\/p>\n Fulton Sheen pray for us.<\/p>\n Fulton Joseph pray for us.<\/p>\n Our Lady of Grace intercede for us.<\/p>\n Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.<\/p>\n ~ Royce<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The sorrow we felt during this Holy Week was in fact an opportunity for immense grace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25,29,26],"tags":[32,27],"class_list":["post-659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fulton-news","category-life-news","category-news","tag-baby-fulton","tag-fulton-joseph"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=659"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":731,"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/659\/revisions\/731"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eclient.app\/lawlife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n\t\t\t\t\t
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