A miracle

I was awakened by a phone call this morning.
My sister, Kristin, was on the phone and I could tell by her voice that something was wrong.
Immediately my heart started pounding, my hands shaking.

"Faith," she said, "did you hear about Faith?"
"No, what,?" I managed to breathe out, as a million different scenarios raced around in my head.
Kristin went on to tell me that our younger sister had given birth, the baby was in trouble and it didn't look like it was going to make it.

It was Faith's first baby and the labor had gone very quickly.
By the time the midwife arrived Faith was fully dilated.
She quickly grew alarmed at the baby's low heart rate and called 911.

The paramedics arrived just as the baby, a girl, was coming out.
She was limp, not breathing, and deathly quiet.
They intebated her, but it seemed like there might be a blockage as the baby still didn't seem like she was getting oxygen.
They raced her to the ER and Faith stayed behind to deliver the placenta.

The whole time Kristin is telling me this we're both sobbing, crying out to God for a miracle, praying that it's not true.

Our sweet Faith, not our precious Faith.

Faith, who has loved babies and children her whole life... whom all the children love. Faith, who scopes up nieces and nephews no matter how smelly or dirty they may be and covers them with kisses. Faith, who has babysat all our children and we've never felt one moment of worry while they were in her care. Faith, who has excitedly anticipated the birth of her very own baby these last 9 months.

Not Faith... please God, not Faith!

Another phone call and this time it's Faith who is being rushed in due to hemorrhaging.
But, oh, praise God!!...the baby is in NICU...she is still alive!!!!

Frantic praying as I rush around, trying to get out the door.
A fast shower and nurse Mikayla, waiting for Jerry to return home from his meeting so I can leave.

Then another phone call, this one bearing the news that we are so desperate to hear.

Baby is fine, breathing on her own and is doing wonderfully.

PRAISE GOD, THANK YOU JESUS, for this miracle!!!!!!

Faith is weak, she lost a lot of blood, but she is going to be o.k. too.
Another miracle!!!!!

So very much to be thankful for...a midwife who knew when to call, paramedics who came quickly, hospitals close by, all of it working together to save 2 lives today.

The baby is beautiful... a sweet baby girl with big, dark eyes and a head full of dark hair.
She has to be in NICU for 48 hours, but they are optimistic that she will be able to go home after that.
Faith will probably be able to come home tomorrow, but she is going to have to take it easy for a long time.
They said that they told her she had to get that baby out fast and she did - I am so proud of her!!

What a day...how fragile are our lives here, how precarious our existence!
We could be planning a funeral tonight...instead God, in His mercy, has allowed for us to rejoice.

My heart grieves for the mothers who have had the opposite outcome- it's never fair.
I can't even begin to imagine the horror, the grief, the emptiness of their arms.
I don't have any answers as to why that happens, but I do have faith that our God loves us and feels the heart of grief- He knows what it's like to lose a child.
Someday, in heaven, all those mothers will once again hold their little ones and I can't imagine the longing and joy they must have at that thought.

Tonight, though, I am praising God that He has allowed my precious sister and her husband to hold their baby here on earth!

Thank you Jesus!!!

Myah Grace