We trust you will forgive the impersonal mass email. But scores of small conversations on this issue is currently rather hard for us to stomach.
Sara is about 21 weeks pregnant. This past Friday we went in for our “find-out-the-sex-of-the-baby” ultrasound. We found out that it is definitely a boy! At the same time we found out that our little boy has several problems. After meeting with our doctor we were sent to a specialist and had an hour long ultrasound to explore some problems that were detected. The initial results are that our son has several “defects”. Any one of them is not a huge deal in and of itself, but taken together, the doctors tell us, it’s not a good sign. He has a hole in his heart (probably the most serious). There is something in the back of his brain that is measuring small. His stomach did not contain any fluid which may indicate he is unable to swallow. And he has a cleft lip and the possibility of a cleft palate as well.
We have a second appointment tomorrow afternoon to talk with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine doctor about what all of this means. He wanted to give us the weekend to begin to process on our own before overwhelming us with details. What we do know at this point is that all of these issues could point to a chromosomal problem. If that is the case, the likelihood of our son making it to term is about 1 in 10. And of those 10% that make it to term, only 10% make it to 1 year. We don’t know what exactly the Lord has in store for us and our son but already we can see his hand of provision, love and care upon us as we face what seems to be a dark providence.
We simply wanted to inform you all as our family of faith and ask that you would ask our father for his intervention -- in our son’s body and in our spirits. We need wisdom, faith, rest, perseverance and to trust the Lord for daily grace and surely a host of other things we have not thought of. At any rate, thank you for your care for us in prayer. If we need specific things (babysitters, food, advice), don’t worry, we’ll ask.
Thank you.
grant & sara
for keeping up to date on the life and happenings of little Samuel Patton Beachy
Samuel Beachy
Who am I?
~ 3rd child of Grant & Sara Beachy
~ younger brother of Anna Catherine (9) and Colin (6)
~ b. Feb 27, 2008 (present with us)
~ d. Feb 18, 2013 (present with Jesus)
~ younger brother of Anna Catherine (9) and Colin (6)
~ b. Feb 27, 2008 (present with us)
~ d. Feb 18, 2013 (present with Jesus)
~ a fighter
~ a child of the covenant
~ a child of the King
~ a child of the covenant
~ a child of the King
A word from my mom and dad
Our third child, Samuel, was born on February 27, 2008. He was shortly thereafter diagnosed with a rare syndrome - CHARGE. This condition is seen in approximately 1 in 12,000 births. In the first month of his life, Samuel had 3 surgeries, one of which was open-heart to fix two holes and a short aortic arch. There are many more surgeries to come and our list of specialists continues to grow (current Specialist Count: 7).
Over the past several months, even before Samuel was born, we realized we were in for some hard days, weeks and months. While we knew little of exactly what was going on with our son and how it would effect our lives, we certainly knew that we were not going to be able to make it alone. God has been more than faithful to provide us with all that we have needed - through corporate worship, through his Word, and most pointedly, through his people.
In the midst of all of this, when we have had our wits about us, we have been able to pray one simple line from a great old hymn of the Christian faith. Three words have been, on many occasions, all that we have been able to utter as far as prayer goes. And - as one friend reminded me - when we aren't able to use words to pray, sometimes we must allow our tears to be our prayers. No matter the means, over the past several months, we have been trying to trust the Lord of heaven and earth simply for 'strength for today.'
Over the past several months, even before Samuel was born, we realized we were in for some hard days, weeks and months. While we knew little of exactly what was going on with our son and how it would effect our lives, we certainly knew that we were not going to be able to make it alone. God has been more than faithful to provide us with all that we have needed - through corporate worship, through his Word, and most pointedly, through his people.
In the midst of all of this, when we have had our wits about us, we have been able to pray one simple line from a great old hymn of the Christian faith. Three words have been, on many occasions, all that we have been able to utter as far as prayer goes. And - as one friend reminded me - when we aren't able to use words to pray, sometimes we must allow our tears to be our prayers. No matter the means, over the past several months, we have been trying to trust the Lord of heaven and earth simply for 'strength for today.'
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness,
O God my Father;
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been,
Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning
New mercies I see.
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Lord, unto me!
And springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness,
Mercy and love.
And a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence
To cheer and to guide;
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine,
With ten thousand beside!
Words: Thomas O. Chisholm
Music: William M. Runyan © 1923