Pregnant Woman Induces Labor 15 Days Early so Dying Husband Can Meet His Baby Girl

When we’re young adults getting ready to start a family, the last thing on the minds of most of us is that the children we long for are going to lose one or both of their parents. Mark Augler and his wife Diane were looking forward to the birth of their newest family member when Mark discovered that he had colon cancer. When they learned that he survived surgery to remove the deadly cancer from his colon, they were relieved at first. However, their relief was short-lived. The couple was devastated when they soon learned that the chemotherapy that Mark had received to fight his cancer severely damaged his lungs.

Mark’s doctors diagnosed him with pulmonary fibrosis, and they said that the 52-year-old man’s condition was fatal and incurable. In fact, they knew exactly how long he would live, for the most part: only six days at most. A very pregnant Diane was naturally devastated because her delivery date was two weeks away. However, she knew with crystal clarity exactly what she needed to do in these circumstances as soon as Mark turned to her and told her he wanted to see his baby. Diane made the decision to have her labor induced so that Mark would be able to hold his precious baby girl one time.

Diane’s labor was induced on January 18, 2012, and she gave birth to a perfect and beautiful baby girl, who the couple named Savannah. Mark was able to witness the birth because Diane’s hospital bed was right next to his own. Once Savannah was born, the medical staff placed the sweet little angel gently into her father’s loving arms. While he was holding his baby girl, Mark looked down and cried tears of joy knowing he wouldn’t be able to watch her grow up. He knew how many memories they would never share together, and how many precious moments would be lost.

Mark held Savannah for 45 minutes and talked softly to her the whole time. Suddenly, he began to feel weak and they had to take the baby from him. Mark Augler fell into a coma three days later and soon after that, he passed away. Diane said that even when he was in a coma, she put Savannah on her husband’s chest and his hand moved towards his baby girl. Watch the video of this heartbreaking story below.