The Bacuyani family has always loved to travel and explore together. They have been travelling the world with their three boys since 2012. But when tragedy struck in 2021, they decided to use it as an opportunity to rewrite their life story.
In 2020, they welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Amelie Grace, to their family. She was born four months premature, weighing only 1 lb. 4 oz.
In 2021, when Amelie was four months old, the Bacuyani's moved across the country, from Oregon to Ohio, to receive the best medical care possible for their daughter.
"Amelie just kept fighting. She overcame so many obstacles. I remember the doctors and nurses constantly were impressed. She would get septic shock and just all these trials, and she just kept overcoming them all. Time and time again, it was a miracle that she had made it and was fighting so hard," said Angela Bacuyani, Amelie's mother.
"We were actually talking about discharging her and bringing her home in October. She would come home with a trach. We were doing our training to learn to care for her at home, setting up home nursing and learning sign language. We were doing everything to bring her home in October and then sadly, very unexpectedly she passed away one night. We were heartbroken."
Amelie helped the Bacuyani's realize how precious time with family is. They now travel full-time in hopes of creating lasting memories with their family, bringing Amelie along in their hearts.
"I was so fearful that in losing her, that would weaken my faith, and I would be blaming God and be so angry, but I am shocked that I have not felt that way. It has only really strengthened me."
The Bacuyani's hopes that by sharing their story they will be able to help other families like theirs.
Today on Connections, the Bacuyani family talks about Amelie, what it has been like to travel the world and the impact this has had on their faith.