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This site has been visited 1175 times.Personal Background
This memorial website was created in loving memory of our beloved baby, Santana Dior De Leon who was born on June 10, 2008 to Dexter and Shay De Leon with a surviving sister Ziah De Leon. He sadly passed away on June 21, 2008 and will be greatly missed by family and friends and will forever be the light of our lives....
Shays’ (Santana’s Mother) pregnancy was going ok all up to one day…June 10th 2008, she wasn’t feeling well at all, a lot of back and pelvic pain. Something she never felt with her first born Ziah (Santana’s sister). She knew something was wrong and she immediately told Dexter (Santana’s Father) that she needed to go to the hospital. Shay contacted her mother Renee (Grandma Moore) and informed her that she was leaving to the hospital. Renee agreed to meet them there. Dex called an ambulance for her because at the time they had no form of transportation. They arrived at the hospital and the hospital ran some test and gave Shay the news that no mother to be EVER wants to hear. They informed her that she had a disease called Preeclampsia at five months of pregnancy and by the results that were obtained from her blood work she only had hours to live because the disease was shutting down her liver and other organs.
That morning was becoming the worse day of Shays’ life. She didn’t know what to think or do. The doctors at
Shay couldn’t think straight the doctors told her and Dexter if Santana survived he would be blind, death, and paralyzed. However, there was NO chance that Santana would live according to the doctors. The doctors told Shay and Dexter that if he did survive at the time of birth and he went into stress they did not recommend assisting him on staying alive. But neither Shay nor Dexter wanted to hear this they wanted their son as God was giving him to them. This was too much for Shay so she wanted for Dexter to contact his sister Deedy who had just had a one pound baby boy due to Preeclampsia and survived. She wanted her input on it before she made any decisions. Deedy immediately drove to the hospital. Shay told Deedy how she felt and asked for some advice of what she thought she should do. Deedy expressed to her that she understood her pain and that she knew it was a tough decision and that she too had to make that same decision a couple of months before then. But Deedy also expressed to Shay that her Preeclampsia was not as severe as hers. And that she had gotten three weeks to make up her mind but in Shay’s case she only an hour. That was all the time the doctors had given Shay to make up her mind - one hour. Deedy along with Grandma Renee told Shay that they knew she was hurting as a mother because EVERY mother wants what is best for their child and that Santana was just as important, but at the same time Ziah also needed her mother alive. So at that very moment Shay and Dexter had to make the biggest decision of their lives and they went ahead with the c-section under the conditions that every doctor in the operating room knew that as soon as Santana came into this world they were to do EVERYTHING it took for him to survive, that was the end of the conversation….Shay was wheeled into the cold and lonely operating room and nobody could go in with her. Shay left scared not knowing if she would get to see the world again or even if she would awaken to the news that her son had passed. Dexter remained in the waiting room wondering if he would ever see his wife alive again or even if he would get to tell his first born son how much he loved him before he passed. Grandma Renee was left behind with the thought of loosing her daughter…would she ever hold her again? Or even be able to console her daughter because of the loss of her child? And Deedy was left behind with the thought of “Did I encourage her to make the right decision?” All that was left in the waiting room besides hearts beating rapidly was thoughts….prayers…..tears and hope!
Santana Dior De Leon was born at 3:04 p.m. on June 10, 2008 at 10oz. Yes….he was born alive! After Shay had awaken from her c-section a doctor held Shays hand and told her that they had been “WRONG”. Her son was alive and not only was he alive he was not showing any signs of stress what so ever. The doctors came out and gave Dexter, Renee and Untie Deedy the news that they had a 10oz little boy and Shay was out of danger, her vital stats had immediately turned around and that she was looking better. This became the highlight of the day they couldn’t believe it. They waited patiently until they were allowed to visit Shay in her room. The doctors spoke with all of them and told them that even though Santana was born alive they wouldn’t give more than 48hrs before he would pass. This immediately saddened them but they felt they had 48hrs to spoil him with all the love God could give a human.
The next day everyone visited little Santana at the hospital they told him how much they loved him and that he was forever in their hearts. Doctors from all over the hospital were visiting his crib side. They couldn’t believe their eyes it was
The next two days were a battle for Santana his numbers were going up and down but he was still fighting. On Saturday morning June 21st, Shay called Holy Cross to do her routine check on him prior to leaving for the hospital and when she called they informed her that they were trying to contact her at the same time because he was having difficulties with his breathing and they were doing chest compressions. They put her on hold for about ten minutes and when they got back on the phone at 8:30 a.m. they gave her the news no parent should ever hear. Their baby boy Santana had passed. He could not fight his battle anymore his little body was too tired to keep going and he just gave up. He has left behind a mother, father and sister crushed because of his departure. But he has left eleven days of memories that will NEVER be forgotten. We know that Santana fought eleven days for his life for a reason whether it was to change or correct the way we are living, or to give us strength to keep living…. but something is for sure his life was not in vain he was here for a reason!
YOU WILL FOREVER REAMIN IN OUR HEARTS SANTANA,
WE LOVE YOU!!!!
For more information on Preeclampsia please visit the websites listed below. Preeclampsia has claimed the lives of thousands of mothers and three times the amount of babies. Please help raise awareness of this disease so that we can diagnose this disease early on in pregnancy and we can avoid tragedies as the one of our beloved Santana.
http://www.preeclampsia.org/index.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-eclampsia
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the itsy, bitsy baby in His hands,
He's got our Santana in His hands,
He's got the itsy, bitsy baby in His hands,
He's got our Santana in His hands.
He's got the sun and the rain in His hands,
He's got the moon and the stars in His hands,
He's got the wind and the clouds in His hands,
He's got our Santana in His hands.
He's got the rivers and the mountains in His hands,
He's got the oceans and the seas in His hands,
He's got the itsy, bitsy baby in His hands,
He's got our Santana in His hands.
He's got everybody here in His hands,
He's got everybody there in His hands,
He's got everybody everywhere in His hands,
He's got our itsy, bitsy baby Santana in His hands.
Latest Tributes
comfort - Shay & Family:
I was truly saddened when I heard about your loss. I pray that God will give you strength and courage to continue being wonderful parents to Ziah and always keep the memory of Santana in your hearts!
Look to the Lord in all that you do - especially during such a difficult time in your life.
Peace and Love,
Joscelyn - from Joscelyn Lissone
comfort - Shay & Family:
I was truly saddened when I heard about your loss. I pray that God will give you strength and courage to continue being wonderful parents to Ziah and always keep the memory of Santana in your hearts!
Look to the Lord in all that you do - especially during such a difficult time in your life.
Peace and Love,
Joscelyn - from Joscelyn Lissone
A Child On Loan - A Child On Loan
"I'll send you for a little time
A Child of Mine," He said
"For you to love while he lives,
And mourn for when he's dead."
It may be one or seven years
Or twenty-two and three,
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for me?
he'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay
Since all from earth returns.
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn.
I've looked the wide world over
In search for teachers true
And from the throngs that crowd life's loves
I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love,
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
And take him back again?"
I fancied that I heard them say,
"Dear Lord, thy will be done
For all the joy Thy child shall bring
The risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter him with tenderness
We'll love him while we may
And for the happiness we've known
Forever grateful stay.
But should the angels call for him
Much sooner than we'd planned
We'll brave the bitter grief that
comes And try to understand."
No bond is as great as that between a parent and child. My deepest condolences are with you as you grieve. - from Denita Sutherland
praying for you and your family - Hey I'm not sure where to start or what to say but i just wanted to stop by and show my condolences. I was reading the story and was just saying what can you say knowing that you can't turn back time when you know deep down and your heart you will and won't change it for the world. I was crying so hard knowing that I'm a mother and i feel your pain. But just remember he was frighting trying so hard and now he can fright to look down on the family and give yall strength and proection. He was so small but so cute. Take care and I will keep the family in my prayer and ask god to give yall the strength.
friend of the family
Ebony - from Ebony Corprew
praying for you and your family - Hey I'm not sure where to start or what to say but i just wanted to stop by and show my condolences. I was reading the story and was just saying what can you say knowing that you can't turn back time when you know deep down and your heart you will and won't change it for the world. I was crying so hard knowing that I'm a mother and i feel your pain. But just remember he was frighting trying so hard and now he can fright to look down on the family and give yall strength and proection. He was so small but so cute. Take care and I will keep the family in my prayer and ask god to give yall the strength.
friend of the family
Ebony - from Ebony Corprew
Latest Memories
Nyia & Kyia - We lit a candle for you Santana Dior De Leon an we just wanted to say we love you forever and always.Shay and Dex we love you guys and if you two need to ever talk to someone we will always be here for you.
Mommy! - the memory of rising up from my operation to the bright shinning light, with Doctors all around me. My vision was still slightly blury. Then i looked to my right and saw the same doctor (Dr.Potts)that told me you had no chance at all! She could tell i was trying to speak but i was still drugged up and couldnt. Instead she spoke for me and she said the words i was so glad to hear and will never forget "We Are Glad to be Wrong, Are you ready to see your baby boy"....Suddenly My vision came back to normal and as crazy as it seems....I keep hopeing that the funeral home or the hospital would call me and say those exact words til this day.... "we are glad to be wrong"....It just dosent seem real
Capre - I remember visiting Santana. On June 12, 2008 Ashley and I went to see Shay and Santana. I still have the maternity badge that they made us wear. As we got closer to room 3209, my heart started beating faster and faster. Aunt Ne-Ne, and grandma and grandpa Moore was there. Grandma was making sure that nurse was taking the upmost care of Shay. Then Shay told the nurse that she was ready to go see the baby. Right then, I wished she was taking her baby home after spending the required 3 days in the post-partum ward. Three at a time we went in. We passed all the NICU babies and stopped in the back at Santana's incubator. I was scared to look, so I leaned inch by inch until I could see him. Yep, he's a fighter...kicking and moving, and there was nothing un-human about him. He was just tiny. Now we know what little face to look for when we all meet again.
Mommy! - The Final memory of my baby boy in a robe,slippers and hat that the Hospital made him :)It was so tiny and it was fitting his little body so perfect! WE got to hold you for the first and last time and it felt so real! It felt like you was still there! :(..........I will never forget!
Nicole Walker - Santana, you are an angel indeed that will always be loved and missed by those who knew you and knew of you. I work with your Mom and was saddend to hear that you left your families side so soon. My prayer is for your mom's strength every day as no words can express the pain a mother feels to have such a loss as great as you. I pray for the comfort of Jesus to be with your mom, dad, big sister and all of your family during this time. You continue to be that Angel that God created you to be and watch over your family.