While we argue about culture and politics this afternoon, a young mother and father are saying goodbye to their baby girl:

This time it’s real. This time we have been instructed to choose a time and a place before Agnes chooses it for us. This time the treatments they try don’t work. This time her condition declines and never fully recovers, so she loses something each time.

The doctor told us she talked with all the other ICU attendings over the last 48 hours, and they all agree there is nothing more they can do. The doctor told us we are talking in terms of hours or days Agnes has left. The doctor told us the several episodes of Agnes declining are her body telling us she is done.

Agnes is done.

Done.

Now it’s up to us to let her go.

Read the whole thing. I think I’m going to get off the blog for the day and pray for Baby Agnes and her parents, Jeremy and Judy Schwager, and think about what really matters in life.

UPDATE: From Jeremy Schwager’s Facebook page:

Agnes peacefully passed away in our arms during the Hour of Divine Mercy yesterday (friday) afternoon. She was happy that we were holding her. She was comfortable. She will always be “Baby Agnes” to us. Sweet Saint Baby Agnes, pray for us.