The amazing Cecily Arroyo with her daughter Maya (8) and Mariposa (5). Cecily is the mother of 4 children. Her first pregnancy was going well until her son Malien (Mayan) was diagnosed with a neural tube defect. She was induced at 7.5 months and able to deliver vaginally but her son did not survive the birth. Cecily was understandably devastated by the loss of her son but has very much felt his spiritual presence with her. Four months later she was able to conceive her daughter Maya. She strongly feels that Malien's spirit guided Maya to her family. She was able to have another vaginal birth and breastfed Maya for about two years. Cecily became pregnant again with a daughter named Mariposa who was diagnosed with a chromosomal defect in utero. At 7.5 months Cecily stopped feeling her daughter move and knew that something was wrong. Mariposa was still born soon after. Cecily says that she never felt a real connection with her daughter's spirit and when became pregnant again, 4 months later, never intended to give her fourth child the same name. While pregnant a Monarch butterfly flew into her home and she felt that the name was meant to be. She now believes that her daughter's Mariposa share the same spirit she just needed to find a new body. Her pregnancy was without complication and she was able to have a fourth vaginal delivery and wonderful breastfeeding relationship.
neural tube defect