I’m not even sure where to begin because so much has happened over the last two days.

On Sunday, the relics of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque were visiting Denver for just one day. When I found out she was coming, my heart was filled with love. I just knew she was coming for our sweet girl. Since we named our daughter, Dolores Margaret Mary, in part after this beautiful saint, we felt called to take our family to Mass and venerate her relics.

As we knelt together in prayer, I asked Saint Margaret Mary to bring Dolores’ heart to Jesus and asked Jesus to give Dolores His most Sacred Heart.

If you’re unfamiliar with Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, she had a profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Looking back now, that visit feels like such a gift from God before everything unfolded.

Later that evening, while having dinner with friends, I started feeling what I thought might be contractions. They were uncomfortable and about twenty minutes apart but I wasn’t convinced they were real. For nearly four hours I kept wondering, “Is she just moving like normal, or is she trying to come early?”

For a couple months, we had surrendered our birth plan. Because of Dolores’ heart condition, we had planned a scheduled C section so every medical team would be present and to avoid unnecessary stress on her heart and lungs during labor.

Apparently, Dolores had her own plans!

Those movements by her really were contractions. God’s mercy was all over them because they never became overwhelmingly painful. Another miracle.

When we arrived at the hospital around 1:00 in the morning, I was already 8 centimeters dilated. The team was shocked that I was having contractions and not really feeling them.

Our doctor looked at me and said, “Let’s do a vaginal delivery. I’ll call in all the troops.”

What followed was one of the most peaceful and controlled births I could have imagined.

I was surrounded by an incredible team who were kind, calm, supportive and trusted me to do what I had already done before with Ellie and David. Our birth photographer, who was also present when David was born, captured moments that our family will treasure forever.

I barely felt the contractions until it was time to push. It was strange but amazing! Two pushes later, our sweet girl entered the world crying and wiggling.

They immediately placed her in my hands. I got to take her in, kiss her and hold her just like I wanted! While she rested in my arms, Patrick baptized her. It is a moment I don’t think either of us will ever forget.

Then we entrusted her to the team waiting in the next room, where what felt like twenty people were ready to care for her.

Soon afterward, she was taken to the cath lab, where the cardiology team performed a balloon atrial septostomy to enlarge the opening between the upper chambers of her heart and improve blood flow. They also placed a stent to help keep that opening open, allowing blood to continue flowing as it should.

The doctor later came to tell us the procedure had gone well. Praise God! Another miracle!

She is now stable in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), receiving the medications and care she needs as they continue evaluating her heart, lungs, and overall strength. Over the coming days, they’ll determine if she is eligible (because of her lungs) and if so, ready for the first of the three surgeries that many children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) undergo.

Looking back, I can’t help but think about that prayer before Saint Margaret Mary. I asked Jesus to give Dolores His Sacred Heart. I don’t know all that He has planned for her life, but I do know He has held her heart from the very beginning, and He will continue to hold it every step of the journey ahead.

Her story has already been marked by so many graces that it’s difficult to put into words.

There were countless moments where we had to surrender our hopes, our fears, our plans, and our desire to control the outcome. Each time was an invitation to trust Him.

One thing has become overwhelmingly clear: when we place everything into His hands, we can trust that whatever He allows is held in His perfect love. We surrendered everything to Him, and in His goodness He has given us gifts we never could have orchestrated ourselves. The road ahead is still uncertain, but we will continue this journey of trust and surrender.

The nurses already love Dolores’ strength and feistiness. They’ve informed us that she has a little fire in her. Apparently she’s already been giving them the side eye, which made us laugh because it reminds us so much of both Patrick’s grandmother and my grandmother.

Today, we also received another unexpected gift. Fr. Michael Pavlocovic came to visit us and Dolores. He anointed both Dolores and me with the anointing of the sick and then gave Patrick and I communion. It was such a profound reminder that Christ continues to meet us here in the hospital, reminding us of His love and His desire to give us His heart.

Tomorrow Ellie and David will finally get to meet the little sister they’ve been praying for, singing to, and loving throughout this entire pregnancy. We can’t wait to watch them meet their new favorite sibling.

I’ll also be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, while Dolores will continue her stay in the CICU. We’re still figuring out what these next days will look like as we learn how best to be with her while she continues receiving such incredible care.

Thank you for carrying our family in prayer. Every message, every gift, every prayer has meant so much to us and have been extremely meaningful for our family. Thank you.

Dolores Margaret Mary Finegan Born at 2:56am on August 3, 2026 — 6 pounds, 11 ounces

Welcome to the world, sweet girl! We are so grateful that you’re here.