One of the saddest moments a person can experience is coming to the cruel realization life doesn’t last forever, at least here on Earth.
While we all know we’ll die one day, watching people we love die is heartbreaking, and often traumatic.
But Cori Salchert not only watches those she loves die, she does something absolutely incredible.
In fact, her story is so out of this world, it’s sure to bring tears to your eyes and touch your soul in a deep and profound way.
She actually adopts terminally ill children and babies and takes care of them until they pass away.
Yes, she chooses this path for her life course.
You see, Cori can’t bear the thought of seeing a child go unloved and uncared for during their final moments here on Earth, so she willingly chooses to adopt “hospice babies”, and provide them love until their very last breath.
Today reported:
“Salchert and her husband Mark, who have eight biological children, first adopted a daughter, named Emmalyn, in 2013.
The infant was born without the right or left hemisphere of her brain, and was given a grim prognosis by her doctors.
Still the family brought Emmalyn home, caring for her for fifty days before she died in Salchert’s arms in their dining room…
Additional foster children, all with varying diagnoses and outcomes, have passed through the Salchert’s home.
In an upcoming memoir titled “I Will Love You Forever,” Salchert shares the joy and heartache she and her family have experienced as a result of opening their homes and hearts to children with such unique needs.
“We invest deeply, and we ache terribly when these kids die, but our hearts are like stained-glass windows,”
Salchert wrote in a 2016 essay for TODAY. “Those windows are made of broken glass which has been forged back together, and those windows are even stronger and more beautiful for having been broken.”
Wow. Just Wow.
With all the cruelness in this world, it’s refreshing to know there are people like Cori Salchert who demonstrate love in action.
So many people would be quick to give up their baby, and even fewer would be willing to take on the emotional challenge of caring for someone else’s dying child.
But Cori’s heart for the broken is truly made evident.
Instead of passing on the responsibility to someone else, Cori has volunteered, with her entire heart and soul.
These dying children are sick by no fault of their own, and Cori truly “walks the walk”, by emulating to the core the “all lives matter” motto.
She’s the real deal.
Hats off to you, Cori Salchert.
We here at Mommy Underground are thankful for your generous heart and ability to step up when it counts most.
If you had one message to tell Cori Salchert, what would it be?
Do you think you could adopt a child who was dying?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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