“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, before a single one of them came to be”. Psalm 139:13-16

Greetings!

Please forgive the delay in updating you.  We didn’t arrive home until the early morning hours on Saturday. Since then, we have been trying to adjust to life at home, and catch-up on some rest. I think that the major adjustment has been – well, no rest!

Since this is such an important update, I wanted to take the time to process the events of the last several months, and provide an update that is transparent, and appropriately reflected our thoughts on this journey.

Friday was a day of waiting. It was the day we were expecting news of the results from the initial chromosome test to determine whether our little Sophia had Trisomy 13.

Late Friday afternoon, the Head of Neonatology walked into our room holding a single sheet of paper and announced:

“This is better than an A+ on a report card, it’s normal, everything’s normal!”

And with those words, the wait was over, and it was settled. We are obviously overjoyed, and so deeply grateful to God.

Throughout this journey, we have met with many medical professionals, who are bright and competent, and for whom, we have the deepest respect and gratitude. Along the way, these folks have cautioned us that the cell free DNA test that predicted that our little Sophia would have Trisomy 13 was highly accurate, and that false positives are extremely rare. In fact, the particular test we took, boasts the highest accuracy, and the lowest occurrence of false positives in the industry. This week, though everything about Sophia looked “normal”, a few of these professionals told us that we may just be one of the .3% (.003) who were fortunate enough to get a false positive.

To be clear, we believe that God, in His kindness and grace, has gifted men and women in the medical profession, and has permitted advancements and discoveries in medicine for the benefit all mankind. However, we will not now look to science, (i.e. a false positive) to explain what we’ve prayed for God to do on our behalf. We believe that to do so, would rob God of His glory!  We’ve never prayed for a false positive. We prayed that God would heal our baby, and that is what we believe He did. We hope that this strengthens your faith, as it has ours – and that, as a result, God is bigger in your eyes.

Many of those reading about our journey have commented that our faith was “inspiring”. We do not consider ourselves special, or as having extraordinary faith. The truth is, some days; we felt we could barely hang-on. It was during these times that we experienced the sustaining grace of God.  We’ve simply cried out to God and asked Him to heal our baby. Or, that if it wasn’t his will to heal our baby, that He would grant us mercy, allowing us the gift of time, and the chance to meet her. All along the way, we endeavored to hold our baby “loosely”, with open hands, affirming to God that, as hard as it was from a human perspective, we desired His glory and renown above all else. He has done more than we could ever ask or imagine.

We will always believe that God heard the prayers of His people, and healed our baby – that what we all witnessed in the birth of Sophia was a miraculous intervention of God, owing nothing to our own merit – and simply a result of His mercy. Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude to Him!

Our New Forever Family…

Before I close, I want to say a word about some new friends we’ve met on our journey. We have written about them on our blog before. These are the moms and dads of children with a trisomy, and these precious children themselves.

Before we received word that Sophia was at high risk for Trisomy 13, the word “trisomy” wasn’t even a part of our vocabulary. Shortly after receiving our screening results, we were introduced to some the most courageous people we’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. We were instantly adopted into this “family”, and have been counseled, cared for, encouraged and strengthened on every step of our journey. We are grateful that our Sophia does not have Trisomy 13, but we are forever a part of this noble fraternity. It is an honor to fight side-by-side with them. Theirs is a valiant battle against an insidious modern day eugenics ideology that labels these children as “incompatible with life”, and in so many cases, results in the refusal life saving treatment that could give these precious children and their parents the gift of time.

These moms and dads face a battle that thankfully, most moms and dads will never face. We are praying intentionally about what our partnership looks like going forward. But, we will forever be their partners and comrades-in-arms. The children they love so deeply are more than a genetic label, and are no less “fearfully and wonderfully made”. We love them, and they have our deepest respect, admiration and support. We carry their grief, and have wept with them as their dreams for their children were shattered. As they have mourned the loss of their children, we have mourned and wept with them.

Finally, words cannot express our deep gratitude for you – those of you who have stood united with us in prayer, and those of you who have encouraged us on this journey. So many of you have carried us on your hearts. Thank you for “standing in the gap for us”, and for your calls, text messages and Facebook posts. We plan for this blog to live on… as a testimony to God’s kindness and faithfulness, and as a resource to those who may be called to walk the road we have walked.

May any praise and glory be directed exclusively to God alone – who orders all things according to the counsel of His will. His faithfulness endures to all generations.

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness endures to all generations.” Psalm 100:5

Andy & Jennifer

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”  Job 42:2

Greetings and Happy New Year!

We are thrilled beyond words to introduce to you, Sophia Elizabeth.  She was born on Monday, December 29th at 5:35 PM.  She was 20 inches long at birth, and weighted 6lbs 6 oz.

The actual induction got underway on Monday, December 29th at about 9:30 AM.  Jennifer’s  labor moved very quickly, and we had a frightening episode about 2:30 PM, when Sophia’s heart rate began to drop pretty rapidly.  One minute, there was only one nurse in the Labor & Delivery room. Within the space of about 30 seconds, there were at least 5 nurses present, and about 30 seconds later, Jennifer’s obstetrician appeared. They gave Jennifer an injection to stop her contractions.  After her OB examined her, they re-started the oxytocin. After about three hours, it became clear that Sophia just wasn’t going to drop into the birth canal, So, in light of the potential risk we were already facing, the OB made the call to perform a C-Section. Almost as quickly as the process started, we had a baby.  After she arrived, and still behind the drape – on the other side of where the doctors we putting Jennifer back together, we decided her name would be Sophia Elizabeth.

After allowing us to have a quick look at her, they whisked her away for evaluation. I joined them at the table where the neonatologist examined her from head to toe. She looked great, needed no resuscitation and had a very healthy, strong cry. After a few minutes, I was directed to the recovery area where I was greeted by our perinatologist, who had stopped-by after her office hours to check on us – just as she had promised she would do. She had already seen Sophia, and said that she thought she looked great.

A few minutes later, the examining neonatologist, came to see us and said that he examined her very closely, and was unable to find any anomalies that would indicate that Sophia has Trisomy 13.  Obviously, we were elated. He then told us that he was open to Sophia skipping the NICU altogether, and going to the regular nursery.  However, after discussing it further, we decided – and the doctor agreed, to admit Sophia into the NICU for the night.  So, she went to the NICU, where she received her first bath, and had the opportunity to meet her grandparents as well as her brothers and sisters!

On Tuesday morning, she was moved to the intermediate nursery, and later, to the regular nursery on the postpartum floor, where we could have her in the room with us as much as we wanted! We have had the time of our lives getting acquainted with our newest little miracle! We think she is just perfect.

For months we have cried out to the Lord to heal our little girl. Many of you saw our Facebook posts or visited our blog and cried out to God on our our behalf. All of you encouraged us along the way. God has heard and answered so many of our prayers. It is a miracle that she is even here with us, and that she is doing so well! To Him alone be the glory.

We’d like to ask for your prayers once again… The doctors can’t conclusively rule out Trisomy 13 until they get the results of the chromosome test.  We are hoping that comes back today, but are not certain that we will get the results, given that the genetics lab at Emory was closed Wednesday and Thursday. Please pray that we get clear test results, and that we get them soon! Given the excellent way that Sophia presented at birth, and how she has done the past few days, its hard to believe that there would be any chromosomal abnormalities, but the test will provide the conclusive answer.

Then, we’d appreciate your prayers for Sophia, as she fights some slight jaundice. We think this is related to feeding and nutritional intake, but that has been addressed, and the nurses don’t seem too concerned at this point. Please also continue to pray for Jennifer’s healing from the surgery. She is progressing nicely, and is working hard to stay mobile so that she has the strength and mobility that she needs.

This journey has been a fight for faith, to be sure. God has been so kind and so faithful to walk with us during this time of trial. He has proven His faithfulness time and time again. Today, we again find ourselves asking God to intervene on our behalf. We know that he hears us when we pray, and we are strengthened by his promise never to leave or forsake us. One of the verses I read to Jennifer early on in her labor was from Isaiah 43. As we await news of the testing, I am praying this prayer once again:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” Isaiah 43:1-3

I cannot adequately express our deep gratitude for you.  You have prayed and encouraged us through these last seven months – and we are so grateful.  We will update you as soon as we know more.  Do not be concerned if you don’t here from us today. We’ll update the blog as soon as we have news!

Andy and Jennifer

So… tomorrow, Monday, December 29th at 7:30 AM is the day!  It is the day that we have all been praying for.   It is the day that I will meet my precious little girl, my gift from God.   It is the day that I will start to receive some answers.  I have never prayed for anything so hard in my life.  I would trade my life – if given the choice – for the health of my baby girl. But, I know that this is not my choice to make.  Tomorrow, God will begin to pull-back the veil on his plan for our little gift. It is God’s decision as to whether or not she will be healthy or whether or not I will meet her this side of heaven.

So, through the tears that are streaming down my face so hard that I can barely see the screen, and the fear that creeps-in on the final leg of this journey, I must trust Him.  God is always good and He is with me now, tomorrow and everyday after that.  He will not leave me.

I continue to pray for a healthy baby girl.  However, above all else, no matter what the outcome, I pray that God’s will be done, and that I will be willing to accept His will.   So, with open arms, I hand my baby over to God, and I pray.  I ask that you all will pray this with us as well.

I want to thank each of you for your prayers, support, messages, “likes” and phone calls.  This has been a journey of a lifetime, and I am so glad to have had such wonderful friends and family to help us along the way.

Our baby girl has already changed our life in so many ways.  He has brought my husband and I closer to God, and my husband and I closer together as a couple. She has already accomplished so much in just 39 weeks. This, in itself, is such a gift.

God has also worked through the heart of our doctors and I pray that they will change the way they view babies that are viewed as less than perfect, and see the value of what they can add to so many people’s lives.

I also pray for wisdom for the entire staff of doctors and nurses involved in the care of our baby girl tomorrow.

So to wrap it up, please pray for complete healing of our baby girl… that doctors everywhere will see babies that are less than perfect as still valuable… wisdom for the doctors and nurses involved with the birth and care of our sweet baby girl… strength for my husband and me to get through the birth and make the best decisions for our baby girl. But above all – that God will use our journey to bring glory to himself, and will give us willing hearts to embrace his plan for us.

I am not sure how the day will unfold tomorrow, but we will update you all as soon as possible. Thank you so much for walking this road with us. You are a gift, and we are most grateful.

Andy & Jennifer

“For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you” Isaiah 54:10

Greetings,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their friends and family.

We have so much to be thankful for this year. We’ve listed just a few of the many blessings below:

We are thankful for each and every one of you who have been so faithful to follow our blog and pray for us and send us encouraging messages.  This means so much to us and really helps to carry us through those hard days.  We never imagined so many people would be praying for our special little girl.  God is so good.

We are so thankful that we have had 35 weeks so far with our sweet baby girl.  Every kick and every move brings such joy to our hearts.  We cannot wait to meet her in a few short weeks!!!

We are thankful for my Aunt Kay and Uncle Chester, who every year for as long as I can remember host a huge Thanksgiving dinner for our entire family.  It brings so much happiness to my heart and I can’t wait for my baby girl to attend a Thanksgiving dinner with the family.

Today, Tuesday, December 2nd at 2:00 pm we have our Week-35 ultrasound with the perinatologist and Friday, December 5^th, we will see the obstetrician at 10:45 am.  This is an important week, as we will be getting the doctor’s counsel on inducing labor. As you may recall in our past post, babies with chromosome disorders can just suddenly pass away as the due date approaches for unknown reasons.  This is why we will be seeing both the perinatologist and obstetrician on separate days, twice a week, every week until our little girl is born.  We still are very hopeful that the Panorama test indicating Trisomy 13 was a false positive, but we must prepare either way.

We ask that you please pray for wisdom for the doctors, a normal ultrasound, for God to heal our baby girl of any potential chromosome disorder or other health problems, and that our baby girl will be born in God’s perfect timing.

Unless we have news, we will update everyone after the OB appointment this Friday.

Thank you again for praying, and for carrying us on your hearts. Please let us know how we can pray for you.

-Andy and Jennifer

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12