Maria Hughley and Heisel Canales: Overcoming Loss and Finding Hope
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A Year of Heartache and
A Year of Heartache and Hope: Maria Hughley and Heisel Canales' Journey
In a year marked by unthinkable heartache and moments of profound hope, Maria Hughley and Heisel Canales have shown incredible resilience and strength. Their story, marked by the premature birth of their twins, the heartbreaking loss of their daughter Adoracion, and the eventual recovery of a priceless pendant containing her ashes, has touched the hearts of many.
Maria Hughley and Heisel Canales were excited to learn they were expecting a baby after three years of dating. Their joy doubled when they discovered Maria was carrying twins. At the time, Hughley was working as a model, but she decided to pause her career to focus on her growing family. Reflecting on this period, she told PEOPLE, "I couldn't fathom how lucky I was, at the time. I never imagined what life had in store for me. I knew I had a much greater purpose to raise my babies and spend time with my family. To this day, I am still beyond grateful to have been able to have carried my babies no matter how long it was."
However, their joy was soon overshadowed by complications. Weeks into her pregnancy, Hughley began feeling unwell. A doctor's visit revealed one of the babies was in a breech position, and the couple was rushed to the hospital. Hughley recalls the traumatic experience: "There was no time to tell our parents, no maternity shoot, and no baby shower. It was extremely traumatic."
Their twins, Heisel Jr. and Adoracion (nicknamed Heiselsito and Dora), were born four months prematurely, each barely weighing over a pound. "Since they were so premature, all the doctors advised me to prepare for the worst. Through it all, they still were able to get the twins out safely. Of course, they were extremely fragile," Hughley said.
The early days of Heisel Jr. and Adoracion's lives were a whirlwind of emotions for Hughley and Canales. The twins were kept in separate rooms due to their fragile conditions, and they never got to meet each other. Adoracion, in particular, faced severe health challenges, including necrotizing enterocolitis, a condition that causes intestinal tissue to die.
Despite the couple's hopes and the doctors' efforts, Adoracion's condition worsened after a surgery meant to help her thrive. On October 27, 2023, just days after turning six months old, Adoracion passed away due to health complications. Hughley described the loss as a nightmare: "She fought hard and we couldn't be prouder."
In the aftermath of Adoracion's death, Hughley and Canales focused on their son, Heisel Jr. After spending much of his first year in the hospital, he was finally able to come home in June 2024. Unfortunately, he had to be re-admitted to the hospital due to an infection. However, his condition has since improved, and the family remains hopeful. "He’s very healthy and going in the right direction. Hopefully, in the next two years, we’ll be able to remove his [tracheostomy tube]!" Hughley shared.
Amidst their grief, the couple found solace in small victories. One such moment came when Canales lost a pendant containing Adoracion's ashes while celebrating their engagement. The loss of the pendant, which held immense sentimental value, was devastating. Hughley explained, "Heisel originally lost it the day he proposed to me and it wasn't easy giving up looking for it. The only reason we were able to cope with it was based on the fact that the beach held special memories."
For a week, the couple did everything they could to spread the word about the missing pendant. Their efforts paid off when a couple found it on the beach and turned it into Sunset Bar & Grill at Little Harbor. The restaurant's Facebook post about the pendant was shared over 3,000 times, eventually reaching people who knew Hughley and Canales.
The couple learned that a Canadian couple, Heather Quinn and her partner, had found the pendant while hunting for seashells. Quinn immediately knew it was something special and turned it into the restaurant manager. "To us, it made us feel whole again," Hughley said. The restaurant staff were surprised at how quickly someone reached out about the pendant, as it had only been a couple of hours since they posted it.
Despite their heartache, Hughley and Canales have found comfort in watching their son thrive. "This kiddo is growing so fast he already has two front teeth and is starting to try to walk! We’re super proud of him and glad to have him home after this long journey. We know his sister is always watching over her brother," Hughley said.
The family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of Heisel Jr.'s continued care and necessary lifestyle adjustments to provide him with the best opportunities.
Source : people.com/couple-reunited-with-ashes-of-late-daug…
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در تاریخ 1403/05/09 منتشر شده
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