'They' said that I would need to terminate the pregnancy immediately. 'They' said that if I tried to carry her for the full pregnancy, that not only would SHE die, but so would I. 'They' said that there was no way that she could survive until birth.
'They' were the finest doctors that money could buy. 'They' were the experts and the people who made life-altering decisions. There was not a time at any step along the way that 'they' could give us any definitive answers except that the baby was a girl and that there was something horribly wrong. But no one, from the moment that this process began, could tell us anything. It was speculation and scare tactics and horror stories throughout.
When we would go to Children's Hospital in Denver for regular consultations and ultrasounds with state-of-the-art equipment, 'they' would assemble doctors in the room to show us tragic, gargoylish pictures of what our baby might look like. 'They' had no idea, but 'they' were willing to share their opinions and their guesses ~ and always their disdain that I would not abort.
There are some challenges in life that help to form the person that we become. This was one of my pinnacles, and very honestly, a time of great peace and joy. Regularly I would point out that, as the best doctors available, why were we not working to try to save her rather than giving up by suggesting we just terminate the pregnancy? As a Christian, I believe that we don't need the grace of God to face the tragedies of life - until we need the grace of God to face the tragedies of life. THAT'S when we are given the peace that passes understanding, and I was given it in abundance.
With four daughters at home, I would just shake my head when 'they' would try to explain how it would destroy my family. My girls not only grew stronger, but as a unit we thrived. I look back on it as one of the most wonderful times of my life. And when she was born and 'they' said she couldn't possibly live past the age of three, I scoffed and said, "What do THEY know?"
Today we celebrate the 25th birthday of one of the most precious people I have ever known. My daughter Callie has defied all odds, and is joy and laughter personified. She has a way of infecting the people around her with her humor and her laughter. I adore this young lady, and am daily thankful that God saw fit to bless me with her. Happy Birthday, Caroline Grace . . . you are so abundantly loved.
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