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Let It Be Done In Me: An Update

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Shortly after Thanksgiving this past holiday season, I shared some news regarding our unborn son and his diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism). (If you haven't seen it and would like to read it, you can find it here.) Joe and I decided to share this news with everyone before our baby was born so that we would have clear minds and rested hearts in which to share the news and also so that we could ask for everyone's prayers for our son and our family. 

I am 39 weeks pregnant today, and I would like to share with you an update about our son:

Right before Christmas, Joe and I went to our son's monthly perinatologist specialist appointment for updated measurements regarding our child. The ultrasound tech did all her measurements, then the doctor came in and measured the long bones (two arm and two leg) again. (This was the same perinatologist we saw in October, the one who first told us our son’s limbs were too small and not growing correctly.) She put his measurements on the screen, and she said, “Based on this data I’m seeing today, if I’m only looking at this, there is nothing wrong with your son.” 

Joe and I were like … WHAT? 

She said that she obviously saw all the data from the most two recent visits, and that skeletal dysplasias are tricky since there are hundreds of them, but based on his measurements, there is no reason to think our son has any sort of pathological problem. I said, “So maybe he’s just small?” And she said, “I’m not even saying that. His measurements are all average.” Joe asked if maybe he just grew a lot, and the doctor said that's not how it works. Truly, she couldn't offer much by way of explanation, she just told us what she saw that day. 

One of his arm bones, which was the smallest one percentile-wise, went from measuring in the 5th percentile in October to the 2.5th percentile in November to the 25.5th percentile that day. TWENTY FIVE POINT FIVE PERCENT. 

A perinatologist, an OB, and a midwife all saw this data from October and November. We were told he had skeletal dysplasia for sure. We were told what was coming and what to expect. The perinatologist spent awhile explaining it to us, then my OB took more time that same week to talk me through it, even suggesting I reach out to our pediatrician now to make her aware. There was simply no question at that time as to what the diagnosis was. It was never a suggestion, it was a certainty. 

Joe and I spent Christmas and the New Year just in disbelief and awe. God ... healed our son? 

The perinatologist asked us to return in January anyways, which we did January 10. Once again, the ultrasound tech took her measurements, and then the doctor re-measured the long bones. He said, "There is nothing here that is consistent with skeletal dysplasia." And then he left. No explanation even attempted. 

But, you see, Joe and I don't need one. Because we have one. 

God healed our son. 

I've spoken to two midwives and a nurse since then, and I've been told in different words "I believe that there are things medicine just can't explain." Joe and I are people of both faith and science, and we agree.

And the reason I want you to know this is this: if you prayed for our son, even one time; if you shared his story with anyone; if you didn't even tell us that you prayed for him, but you did, it is incredibly important to Joe and me that you know GOD HEARD YOU. 

Even as people of faith, I think we’re still human so we want an explanation that makes logical sense. I also think that sometimes we get so used to God not answering our prayers the exact way we hope that we start to believe He can’t or won’t, or that miracles are for other people. Or we think that when we pray for someone, it's not much we're doing for them. But Joe and I want you to know that it matters. It matters SO MUCH. Because you prayed for our son, even with everything going on in your own life, and God heard you and said yes. How can we ever thank you enough for that? 

We are still waiting for our son to be born, so we don't yet know what, if any, surprises await us. But we would like to humbly ask for your prayers for two things for our family:

First, please pray for a healthy labor and delivery of our son. 

The second is a bit more complicated. 

Joe and I have a son whom God chose to heal. We feel an awesome responsibility to teach our son what God did in his life before he was born. And we will teach Bert and Hank about it, too. 

But we also have a son whom God did not choose to heal. And both their lives -- Bert's and the new baby's -- are testimonies of the goodness of God. 

So please pray that we will know the right words to teach all three of our sons that the Lord loves them all equally and they are all made in His image, regardless of ability or disability. I have much more to say on this, but this is all I can say right now. 

I want to end with the exact same words I ended with last time, because our circumstances may have changed, but our faith has not:

“Now we see through a glass, darkly. But then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 

“The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” – Job 1:21

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has given me what I asked of Him. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 1:27-28

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