About two weeks ago, I received an email from a mommy who is pregnant with her first child... a baby boy named Ethan. When I saw the subject line in my inbox, my heart sank: Two weeks left.
I didn't have to even open the message itself to know what I was about to read. This mommy shared how her son had been diagnosed with limb-body wall complex, and was not expected to live. She happened upon my blog when doing a google search. If you've been reading for a while, you may recall that limb-body wall complex was discussed as a possible diagnosis for Isaac (though he didn't, in fact, end up being given this diagnosis).
Over the course of the past couple of weeks, we have emailed several times, discussing things no parent ever should...
What was it like the night before you went to deliver Isaac?
How did you get through handing Isaac back over to the nurse and saying goodbye?
What should we include in Ethan's funeral service?
How did you go about picking out a casket and cemetery plot?
Yesterday I received an email from her, and in it she shared, "There isn't enough time in the world that would really be enough; but it's up now."
My heart just broke... for her, for me, and for every parent who has and will walk this road. As I read this woman's words, I remember so clearly writing similar emails myself... desperate for someone to help me navigate these uncharted waters, and feeling though I just wanted more time with my son.
Today, August 6th, will be Ethan's birthday.
I would love for you to join me in praying for this sweet mommy and her husband, for their extended family, and for Ethan. Please pray boldly for a miracle; please pray for joy as they get to meet their beautiful son face to face; please pray for peace, grace, and comfort as they will likely have to say goodbye. I am thankful that she is a woman of God, and knows that goodbye on this side of Heaven is only temporary; but the pain of losing her son is incredibly real. Thank you for joining me in praying for her.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Today
Posted at 8:44 AM
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24 comments:
just said a prayer for this sweet lady and her precious Ethan. please keep us updated, if you hear anything.
praying for a miracle, and crying tears of my own...
Sending prayers. You are a sweet friend to share those things even though it must be so hard.
It reminds me of the verse in Corinthians about how God will comfort us in our time of need so that we in turn may be able to use the same comfort for others going through the same thing.
I know this was not a "group" you would have ever joined but, you are doing God's work Stacy and even though for you it may not seem like a miracle to talk to a mother going through the same thing, It is. That you are allowing God to use you in such a tender moment is big stuff. You are an inspiration. Sending prayers for you both.
Ra
praying for her.....
praying for Ethan and his family. Thank you for sharing.
Praying, praying, praying....
Prayers!
That was all we ever wanted...just a glimpse, a moment to see our child alive. Hoping that they get at least that.
Sitting here with tears rolling down my face because it just makes it so clear over and over again how horrible the pain of losing your child is.
Praying for her and her family.
Praying here for Ethan and family...we have also been in touch...
Thank you for your heart of compassion, sweet Stacy...love to you...
Praying now!
My prayers are definitely with her and her family.
My prayers are with Ethan, his mom, and the rest of his family today. You're right, no one should have to ask the questions his mother asked you. Breaks my heart. My God is good and He will heal Ethan, whether on Earth or in Heaven.
=( I remember sending you MY email... =( My heart aches for Ethan's family today.
We will be thinking about them and remembering Ethan, always.
Praying today for sweet Ethan and his parents. No parent should ever have to ask those questions, but thank God she found someone with a compassionate heart that has walked the road she is currently on.
You are a light in this world Stacy.
Love,
Liz
Reading this late today, but I have sent up prayers for Ethan and his family. Little Ethan is as lucky as Isaac to have such loving mothers who can depend on and understand one another until they see their precious boys again.
Praying for Ethan and his mom and dad and extended family.
Thinking of you, too, Stacy, as I'm sure this brings back so much of your experience with Isaac.
So thankful for the promise of the Resurrection.
RE: Your post about your job. Perhaps you didn't make choices based on fear. Perhaps those choices were a result of the urging of the Holy Spirit. God knows where this is leading you. Praying for peace for you today.
My heart goes out to all of you who are going through heartbreak over losing (or the possibility of losing) a child. I suppose even if a child is born "healthy", there is always that possibility, but I can't imagine awaiting it. Thank you for, once again, bringing it to the surface and making people like me aware how fragile life is. Children are the most wonderful gift, whether in our arms or not... lots of hugs to you, for the sweet mommy in the blog today, and for all of the mommies around the world.
I'm praying for Ethan and his mommy.
Just want to pop in and say that you have a strikingly beautiful little girl who, in my opinion, looks a lot like her beautiful big brother! :)
Praying for your friend, and also for you with the beginning of school. I, too, am a teacher and I just pack as much snuggles and fun into the summers then go to school guilt-free and strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus to my students. There is rarely a "right" or "wrong"....God will bless and fill in the gaps...
thank you for sharing her story with us ... sending prayers for both of you, and for her family.
I would love to and will say a prayer for Ethan and his family.
Praying for your friend as she prepares for some of the most difficult days on this earth & praying for you as you remember the birthday of your precious child. Sending love & praying that God grants you comfort and peace.
I know that this is an old post, but I found it when googling limb body walk complex.
I don't know if you remember me, but I also emailed you about my daughter, Beatrix, who passed from LBWC, I also used to belong to a Yahoo group that you are a member of.
If you are still in contact with this mom, I would love to speak with her. A group of moms who have carried to term with this defect have a pretty active facebook group, where we try to help each other in our grief.
My contact info is: info@limbbodywallcomplex.net
We also have a website for parents choosing to carry these babies to term- www.limbbodywallcomplex.net
Thank you so much, if you can do this.
Sarah
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