Miracle Max...

I've been touched today by yet another family's story that I heard about through the blog network. It's amazing to me how many people have been touched by Stacy and Spencer, and Taylor and now little Max.

My prayers and thoughts are with little Max's family today as they grieve his loss and celebrate his life. Max was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 and his mommy and daddy got to meet him this morning. He was with them for a little less than 2 hours. Sleep in heavenly peace, sweet Max.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm so drawn to these stories, but I think many of us who have heard and read about these precious babies have felt the same way. Many of us have written about them, and I've been so touched to know that for many of us who check up on each other through these sites share our faith in common. I know that our close call with Trisomy 18 at the 19 week point in our pregnancy with Joshua and the 24 hour period that we wondered and hoped and prayed for the health of our baby is still a very raw and real emotion for me. I can remember calling Karen, the one person I knew would have a chance of helping me understand after her losses and her knowledge of genetic troubles. Jason was taking a huge exam that morning when I got the call from our doctor's office, so I couldn't call him. Karen and I cried together and she promised to go to Geisinger with me if they could get me an appointment with the specialists there and Jason wasn't back home yet from Harrisburg. I remember praying, so hard, for wisdom and guidance as everything I could find to read and learn about Trisomy 18 said "a condition incompatible with life". I had so many questions, and so many fears. It was one of only a few times in my life that I can completely understand the quote by Abraham Lincoln that says, "I was driven to my knees by the overwhelming emotion that I had no where else to go." I recall vividly the strength of my husband, who assured me that we'd get through whatever may lie ahead of us together. I recall calling my sister and my mom and getting no further than "They think there's something awfully wrong with the baby." And then breaking down. I remember the genetic counselor, who I wished had been a bit more tactful when she said, "Things don't look good. You should be prepared to make some decisions today." before she sent us back to meet with Dr. Maslow. And I remember the relief when he told us that it all looked to be a false alarm. And then I remember waiting for that ultimate moment on October 25, 2006 when we heard that precious cry and were told that Joshua was 100% perfectly normal and healthy.

Maybe that's why I so appreciate the demonstration of faith that these parents have displayed and continue to share through their blogs. It makes me ever more thankful for our perfect son. And it makes it even more evident to me that God works miracles to bring each precious child into our lives- for however long he entrusts them to us. Someone once told me that the secret to parenting is to understand that we're just along for the ride. That our kids aren't ours, they're just on loan to us from God to help, to keep safe and to teach as much as we can. And while that doesn't make it any easier to think about the hurting hearts of the parents who have to say goodbye to their babies way too soon, it does put things into perspective to know that God's plan is at work, even when we can't possibly understand it.

I hope we don't hear of any more stories like this for a very very long time. Put today I'll pray for Max's family. And I'll pray a prayer of thanksgiving for Joshua and the millions of blessings he's brought to us. If you want to learn about Max, his website is www.ourmiraclemax.blogspot.com.