19 Years of Miracles

19 years ago a family waited expectantly. Their lives were thrust onto a rollercoaster of emotions. A baby boy safely delievered, the rejoicing the joy the sharing and then 10 days later the shock and grief and sadness as they learned their darling baby son had Down Syndrome!

From what we know shock and grief were the compounding factors in their decision not to parent their precious child.

Their baby son was taken, I suspect with many tears, back to the maternity unit. A unit that failed them terribly....not in the fact their son had this extra chromosome but in the way the news was delivered. A phone call! A short sentence! A lack of compassion! A lack of support and comfort and hope.

Less than a month after the birth of this precious baby our own lives were thrust down the rollercoaster of grief. Our first son...our much loved, longed for long awaited son died! Suddenly, Inexplicably and without warning....our 8 months of joy in parenthood were shattered and grief engulfed us.

God's timing is perfect! I have no idea of how His plans were worked out in that other family....Sadly we were never given the chance to know them and share with them. However our lives are inextricably entwined despite not knowing one another. Our need for another child was great...that need led us through the adoption books, through an experience of fostering a child in great need and then to that precious bundle with the extra special chromosome!

We were introduced to Jonathan by Luke's Social Worker...she already had him in mind for us soon after Luke's funeral and when she realised we were not going to wait she contacted us and brought us together, At 6 months and 14 days of age Jonthan came home to us!

A Healthy baby boy with Down Syndrome!

HA HA HA!

OK so life has taken many many twists and turns for Jonathan...he had massive heart defects, an operation at a year old gave him a 3% chance of survival....3% was better than none and we took that chance knowing God held him close....Jonathan survived...proof of the power of prayer!

Actually Jonathan was an answer to my nephews prayers....and I am trying to remember the words he used so if I am wrong P please forgive me but the essence is here.

In his school book just a few weeks before we brought Jonathan home my Nephew P had written a prayer.

Please Lord Jesus bring Aunty Tina and Uncle David a baby who needs them as much as they need a baby! They miss Luke so much!

He knew nothing of our plans to adopt Jonathan...the only people outside of Social Services who did were my parents.

Then the day after he heard Jonathan was with us he wrote in that same book. Something like this.

See God does listen. I asked Him to give my Aunty Tina a baby and now she has one! See!

Oh for the faith of babes!

So Jonathan survived his heart surgery, he has battled through Hip surgery several times...each time taking a little more from him.

He has developped chronic lung disease, he has fought back from Pneumonia's that have threatened to overwhelm him and still he greets everyone with a smile, has amazing manners and is such a lovely caring determined young man.

We never expected him to survive his childhood years. He started school as a very sickly 4 year old and had so much time off. He has battled back from the brink so many times.

We are so proud of you Jonathan.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

I do not know what the future holds but I am glad I know who holds the future!