Mac's Story

by Josh's sister

At Josh and Cali's request, we have set this blog up as a place to honor baby Mac and to remember all we have learned from his short time here. We hope as Josh and Cali's hearts begin to heal, they will find this blog a place to share their feelings and memories of little Mac. For now, and as a family, we want to share Mac's story with you from our perspective. We're sure that Josh and Cali's version of this story will have far greater depth and be able to express deeper emotions than this version will have, but for now we hope this will suffice.

Josh and Cali have been married for just over a year and are the cutest couple ever! Soon after they were married they found out they were expecting their first child. It was a bit of a surprise to them, but they were thrilled none the less. Cali quickly set up a blog so that she could keep everyone posted on their baby's development and faithfully updated it each month with information on how he was growing, how big he was, how excited they were, etc. When they found out the baby was a boy, they were ecstatic! Josh was so excited to have a son to teach baseball to (Josh plays baseball at Utah Valley University). Nearly every night of their pregnancy (including the night before he died), they would talk to baby Mac and feel him kicking. They would tell him they loved him and couldn't wait to meet him. For nine months Cali had a very healthy pregnancy and they anxiously awaited his arrival.

On June 26th, just two days prior to Mac's due date, Cali went in for a routine stress test. Sadly Mac's heartbeat could not be found. They had felt baby Mac moving the night before, but didn't feel him moving at all that morning. They figured he was just asleep and were absolutely devastated to learn during the test that he had passed away sometime during the night. The cause was later determined by an autopsy to be the result of an umbilical cord accident.

As a family our hearts sunk as we found out the heartbreaking news and we rushed to the hospital to be by their side. We sat with them in their room as Cali progressed through 14 hours of labor and cried together at the thought of never being able to know little Mac or see him alive. It was hard to believe that less than 12 hours prior to that time Mac had been alive and well.

Josh and Cali's last memory with baby Mac alive was the night before. They rubbed Cali's belly and felt Mac moving, kicking, and hiccuping. They spent time talking to him and told him they loved him and couldn't wait to meet him. Even though Mac never saw his parents faces, we know he knows they love him.

As Cali pushed through the last two hours of labor we sat and listened at the door. Tears streamed down our cheeks as we heard Josh's calm voice help Cali through the pains of delivery. We sobbed as we thought of the pain she was experiencing to deliver a baby she knew she would never get to care for on this earth.

Sweet McKallister Vance Hinckley ("Mac") was born June 27th, just one day shy of his due date, at 5:53 am. He weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 22 inches long. After Josh and Cali had the opportunity to spend time alone with him, they invited the family in to meet him. The feeling in the room when we entered was sobering and unforgettable! An amazing amount of peace and comfort rested upon everyone present. The veil seemed so thin. We could feel that God was with us and that he loved Josh, Cali and Mac so much. We were all in tears as we took turns holding Mac and spending the short time we had with his earthly body. Although his little body had already started to decay, we could all see past that and saw the incredibly beautiful little boy that he was and is. All in the room could feel that Mac's spirit, although not in his body, was very much with us.

The hospital originally told Josh and Cali they would only be allowed six hours with Mac, but they ended up being able to spend a full 12 hours with him. They had many visits from family and friends, but also had a lot of alone time with little Mac. During their alone time with Mac, they shared many tender moments with him (see video above). They talked to him, prayed with him, and had a chance to say goodbye. After the 12 hours was up, a nurse came in and wrapped up his little body to be taken to Primary Children's Hospital for the autopsy. Each of our hearts broke as we imagined the emptiness and sadness Cali felt as she was discharged from the hospital with empty arms.


We can ask "why?" and "if only..." all we want, but it won't change the reality that Mac just wasn't meant to stay with us. No matter what would have happened differently, the outcome would have remained the same. God does not make mistakes. Mac was simply not meant to be here. He was too perfect to stay. His spirit was so pure that he had to be called home before enduring the trials and pains of this world. He fulfilled his earthly mission in the short time he was here and has returned to his heavenly home.

Mac is a little boy who never took a step into this world, but left his mark and influence upon many. Mac is a spiritual giant and taught us more in the short time he was with us than most people can teach in a lifetime. He brought families together. He taught us to have faith in God's plan. He brought out the best in each of us. He taught us to be humble, to drop to our knees and pray. He helped strengthen our testimonies of the atonement, resurrection, and plan of salvation. He showed us that the way back to him is through our Savior, Jesus Christ. He was only upon this earth for a moment, but his influence will last an eternity.

We will never forget our little Mac. We will never forget the spirit we felt in his presence. We will never forget what he has taught us and how he's changed each of us for the better. Mac sacrificed his life to teach us things we could not have been taught any other way. He sacrificed his life to bring us closer to Christ.

Words cannot express the admiration and love we have all felt for Josh and Cali through this experience. We believe that from the moment they found out they were expecting, they were being prepared and strengthened so that they could endure this trial in faith. They are champions in every sense of the word. Their strength and faith has blessed us all.