"I am waiting in a silent prayer,
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now
Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness
For you're holy
Breath of Heaven
Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one,
should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me" Amy Grant-Breath of Heaven
Every mother hopes for a smooth pregnancy when she first learns that she is with child, but if turbulence happens to arrive during this time of caring for the life within, not every mother can maintain a calm attitude.
S. had come to the WIC clinic for her weight check, which is usually a quick, ten minute visit. Normally, after reviewing the client's weight gain, answering any questions she might have, reminding her to continue to take her daily prenatal vitamin and encouraging her to breastfeed the baby, the appointment is over. Unless...she has something important on her mind and wants to share it with someone, as was the case with S. as she sat down in the rocker in my office and began to share her story.
She has two children, ages 4 and 9. Shortly after she had discovered this current pregnancy, she was told that her baby has an extremely rare disorder called congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or CDH. This disease results in lung deficiency and breathing difficulties as a hole in the diaphragm allows the intestines, stomach and spleen to get through to the chest cavity and push on the lungs.
S. was told that the baby should have surgery right away, while still in utero, but S. disagreed. She said that with or without this genetic condition, she was her baby's lifeline and she didn't believe that the risks of a double surgery while baby is still in utero would be in her son's best interest. She decided to focus on taking excellent care of her health right now and to postpone the surgery until immediately after birth. She decided that knowing this diagnosis before her baby was born was truly scary, but she wasn't going to let it hold her back. She wanted to become an advocate for CDH, drawing attention to this extremely rare condition that afflicts one in every 2500 births. So, she made a facebook badge and a magnet and she is promoting knowledge of CDH in the hopes that others will learn more about it and hopefully be able to prevent it or treat it more easily someday. She's preparing her two children for how her baby will look after he's born, and for the fact that she won't be able to bring him home with her, but rather he will be staying in the hospital for a while for surgery and treatment.
She was clearly a strong woman who had given all of her choices for treatment much thought. She is already becoming familiar with the staff who work at the hospital where her baby will be born and with the doctors who will be treating him. I asked her if she had a faith community to help her. She said she didn't, but last Sunday she went to church and it was wonderful! I encouraged her to continue to join that faith community each week, to let it embolden her and shape her as her baby takes shape within her.
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now
Be with me now
Breath of Heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven
Lighten my darkness
Pour over me, your holiness
For you're holy
Breath of Heaven
Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one,
should of had my place
But I offer-all I am
For the mercy-of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me" Amy Grant-Breath of Heaven
Every mother hopes for a smooth pregnancy when she first learns that she is with child, but if turbulence happens to arrive during this time of caring for the life within, not every mother can maintain a calm attitude.
S. had come to the WIC clinic for her weight check, which is usually a quick, ten minute visit. Normally, after reviewing the client's weight gain, answering any questions she might have, reminding her to continue to take her daily prenatal vitamin and encouraging her to breastfeed the baby, the appointment is over. Unless...she has something important on her mind and wants to share it with someone, as was the case with S. as she sat down in the rocker in my office and began to share her story.
She has two children, ages 4 and 9. Shortly after she had discovered this current pregnancy, she was told that her baby has an extremely rare disorder called congenital diaphragmatic hernia, or CDH. This disease results in lung deficiency and breathing difficulties as a hole in the diaphragm allows the intestines, stomach and spleen to get through to the chest cavity and push on the lungs.
S. was told that the baby should have surgery right away, while still in utero, but S. disagreed. She said that with or without this genetic condition, she was her baby's lifeline and she didn't believe that the risks of a double surgery while baby is still in utero would be in her son's best interest. She decided to focus on taking excellent care of her health right now and to postpone the surgery until immediately after birth. She decided that knowing this diagnosis before her baby was born was truly scary, but she wasn't going to let it hold her back. She wanted to become an advocate for CDH, drawing attention to this extremely rare condition that afflicts one in every 2500 births. So, she made a facebook badge and a magnet and she is promoting knowledge of CDH in the hopes that others will learn more about it and hopefully be able to prevent it or treat it more easily someday. She's preparing her two children for how her baby will look after he's born, and for the fact that she won't be able to bring him home with her, but rather he will be staying in the hospital for a while for surgery and treatment.
She was clearly a strong woman who had given all of her choices for treatment much thought. She is already becoming familiar with the staff who work at the hospital where her baby will be born and with the doctors who will be treating him. I asked her if she had a faith community to help her. She said she didn't, but last Sunday she went to church and it was wonderful! I encouraged her to continue to join that faith community each week, to let it embolden her and shape her as her baby takes shape within her.
Today I pray for S. who already has so much strength, wisdom and love, and I ask God to bless her with faith as well, so that she may not only be a lifeline for her son, but also for all of those other families who struggle with CDH diagnoses in their own families by drawing all of those frightened souls to the love found in the lifeline of Christ Jesus.
As I listened to S., as I looked into her eyes, I felt as though I were listening to Mary on that long ago day, sharing her story of the life of Jesus growing within her womb, with her cousin Elizabeth. Mary had also faced the unknown about how things might turn out, she had put complete trust in God. She had to accept the fact that others might disagree with the 'yes' that she had given to the Angel Gabriel, might actually scorn her, consider her a sinner and spread vicious rumors about her, but none of that mattered. She knew that no matter how difficult things might be, she had no choice but to put her trust in God, to carry out His plan.
And I look to Mary, and to S.- both young, poor, and frightened-and I wonder, how do they cope? Is it through compassionate friends, through silent prayer, through the love of family? Did the Holy Spirit breathe strength into their souls when their children were conceived within them?
The story of S. and the child growing within her reminds me of the the Holy Family in their flight to Egypt. She is facing challenges that she didn't expect when she first conceived her child. She is at the mercy of strangers in a frightening land of the unknown. She is bearing with many difficulties patiently and lovingly, knowing that the child that God has blessed her with is counting on her to give him life, love and comfort. This motherly lifeline, following the example of our Blessed Mother, saying "yes" to God and accepting the challenge of a sick child, loving that child with all that is in her, humbly accepting the help of strangers, is so beautiful, and I am so grateful that my life has been touched by her.
Holy Spirit of God, breathe through all mothers, like you breathed through our mother Mary. Give us the courage and strength to cope with whatever challenges may come into our motherly lives. Help us to say "yes" and be our lifeline. Amen.
As I listened to S., as I looked into her eyes, I felt as though I were listening to Mary on that long ago day, sharing her story of the life of Jesus growing within her womb, with her cousin Elizabeth. Mary had also faced the unknown about how things might turn out, she had put complete trust in God. She had to accept the fact that others might disagree with the 'yes' that she had given to the Angel Gabriel, might actually scorn her, consider her a sinner and spread vicious rumors about her, but none of that mattered. She knew that no matter how difficult things might be, she had no choice but to put her trust in God, to carry out His plan.
And I look to Mary, and to S.- both young, poor, and frightened-and I wonder, how do they cope? Is it through compassionate friends, through silent prayer, through the love of family? Did the Holy Spirit breathe strength into their souls when their children were conceived within them?
The story of S. and the child growing within her reminds me of the the Holy Family in their flight to Egypt. She is facing challenges that she didn't expect when she first conceived her child. She is at the mercy of strangers in a frightening land of the unknown. She is bearing with many difficulties patiently and lovingly, knowing that the child that God has blessed her with is counting on her to give him life, love and comfort. This motherly lifeline, following the example of our Blessed Mother, saying "yes" to God and accepting the challenge of a sick child, loving that child with all that is in her, humbly accepting the help of strangers, is so beautiful, and I am so grateful that my life has been touched by her.
Holy Spirit of God, breathe through all mothers, like you breathed through our mother Mary. Give us the courage and strength to cope with whatever challenges may come into our motherly lives. Help us to say "yes" and be our lifeline. Amen.
