Posted on 12/12/2004 3:55:37 PM PST by AM2000
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- When most parents have a baby, they spend months dreaming about what their bundle of joy will look like. Will she look like mom? Will he have dad's eyes? But for one local Navy family, the birth of their daughter didn't give them the answers to those questions. Their daughter was born without a face.
When Tammy was pregnant, she knew something was wrong. At worst, they thought maybe their baby had a cleft lip.
So Tammy, and her husband Tom, went to the hospital happy, until the birth.
"The nurse is like, 'We got her stable, we need to rush her upstairs,'" explains Tom, as he recalls every minute of that day. "And the nurse asked, 'Do you want your wife to see her now?'"
Tom says he thought to himself, "Before she gets the shock I did, let me take a picture so she's prepared."
Tammy hadn't seen her new baby yet, because she almost bled to death during delivery. Tammy would be okay, meanwhile, dad went to take pictures of his new daughter.
But no matter what, these new parents had a wish. "That if there was something wrong, she wouldn't be alone. We wanted to make sure she felt loved," said Tom, as he began to cry. "She squeezed my hand."
Little Juliana is missing 30 - 40 percent of the bones in her face.
"She has no upper jaw, no cheek bones, no eye sockets, and she's missing the corner of her ear," explains Tom.
Her birth defect is called Treacher Collins Syndrome. Doctors say it's the worst case they've ever seen.
So, how do you get people to see past all the defects, and find her heart? For mom, it just hurts.
"I just wish people would ask questions. Don't just stare," says Tammy. "I guess the most hurtful thing came not long ago, a little girl said she was disgusting."
Juliana has to eat through her stomach, and she has a trach to breathe. Already, less than two years into her life, she's had 14 surgeries. Doctors say she could need at least 30 more.
Every time she goes to the hospital, doctors make a mold of her head, and then reconstruct her skull to figure out the next step.
It's a life-long process that's draining for Tammy and Tom. Even still, they're thankful and full of love for their sweet child.
"God never gives you more than you can handle. I figure she has a lot to show everyone... to show the world," says Tom.
If you are interested in helping the Wetmore family, a savings account is set up for donations at the Vystar Credit Union in Middleburg.
Donations can be made at ANY Vystar Credit Union to Juliana Wetmore at member number 2102465.
Direct donations can be sent to:
Juliana Wetmore
3018 Hickory Glenn Dr.
Orange Park, FL 32065
About that precious little girl, hopefully surgery can correct much of her problem. But in any case, she'll go thru so much with the surgeries, that it will be a true learning experience for her, and a test of her faith and her family's faith. I pray that they can find comfort in their faith and that they always feel the presence of God in their lives...may He wrap them close in His arms.
BTT.
My daughter Emily, 7, was looking at the picture with me just now and said "mommy, some kids might make fun of that little girl and she needs friends that will stick up for her. I will be her friend and tell kids beauty is being a good person" God has blessed me. I pray for this family; that God gives them the courage and strength they most certainly need. I hope this little girl runs into lots of Emilys along the way so she will know she has worth and value beyond our celebrity culture's narrow and limited ideas of beauty.
I was just thinking of Terry Schiavo while reading your post. Thank God her parents are fighting the good fight.
When you say 'two-way', how do you receive the messages from the deity? Are they visual, sound? Or just some warm and fuzzy feelings?
Is there any way to explain how the deity communicates directly to you?
You have asked a very good and timeless question. I will try to answer in a way that respects your honest desire as well as it reverences our Father in Heaven.
First, understand who you are praying to. Almighty God is your Father in Heaven. Even more than a good mortal father, He loves you and knows you.
To paraphrase a quote I once heard: He knows you as well as if you were His only creation, and He spent all His time with only you. He loves you as much as if you were His only child. He hears your prayers just as well as if He had nothing else to do but listen to you.
In the Bible, Jesus Christ taught both directly and by example how we should pray to the Father. The book of Matthew, chapter 6 has some particularly good instruction from the Master (My comments in italics):
Matthew 65 ...And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
We are to pray to the Father, for Him to hear, not to impress anyone else
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
The Father knows you and loves you more than you can imagine. He knows everything you do and think and, perhaps most importantly in this case, everything you feel and experience. He knows your frustration and pain.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
When we pray, it must be real. He is not impressed by flowery words and expressions, but wants to hear it straight from our hearts. However, we need to still be respectful and reverent, not lashing out in anger or anything of that sort.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Again, he knows you and your circumstances very, very well.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Note, Jesus teaches that we should pray "after this manner." He is giving a sample prayer, containing principles and elements which we should emulate. He did not tell us to necessarily repeat the exact words He uses. To begin with, the Son begins by addressing His Father and expresses reverent worship to Him.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
We should follow the Savior's example by submitting to the will of the Father, rather than demanding that our will be done. This sometimes requires a great deal of faith and trust that the Father loves and cares for you personally.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
We should pray for our needs to be met
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
...and forgiveness, which is tied to how we forgive
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
...and protection from temptation and evil. All glory and credit belong to Him, for all good comes from Him.
So, a large part of prayer is approaching the Father with the right attitude. The right attitude is honesty and humility. A wrong attitude might be anger, pride, or apathy. If you start off just sure you won't be answered, you'll probably be right.
I've also found that answers from God frequently require action of me. I receive answers to my prayers most readily when I am prepared before I pray to do whatever he will ask of me. Once I have made that commitment and truly intend to keep it, I am guided by Him.
Answers to prayer can come in different ways. Most often, for me, they are answered through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes a direct connection to your heart and mind. You will feel and know your answer when the Spirit communicates with you.
How do you know if you are feeling the Holy Spirit's influence? The Bible gives a good list of evidences of this influence:
Galatians 5:22-23 ...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...
God's touch results in godly feelings and changes in your heart. If you are clinging tightly to dark, angry or doubtful feelings, this can intefere with the Holy Spirit's touch. He will usually not come where He is not welcome.
Also, many prayers are answered through the actions of others. The old story of the man praying to be rescued from a flood illustrates this quite well. He didn't recognize answers to his prayers in the help offered by other people. Frequently, our prayers will be answered in the same way. We must be humble enough to accept and recognize such offers from others. This is one way our Father is able to bless two lives at once; the giver and the receiver of the help.
Finally, becoming proficient at communication with Heaven requires practice. Praying every day will help you to develop a familiarity with your own thoughts and feelings as well as those that are impressed on you by the Holy Spirit. It takes some time and effort, faith and commitment to get close to Father in Heaven, but it is very, very worth it.
Thanks for the detailed answer and work. I really appreciate it.
You are quite welcome. Please direct your gratitude to God as well, as there is nothing I could share on this subject that did not come from Him.
Hi Hildy,
Please do a Google search: "Baby Knauer"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1293887/posts
Helen Keller was also considered a worthless human being by many, who would never be able to function.
She, like so many other deformed human beings, including the "elephant man", have inspired many to courage, strength, and compassion.
I've read your posts here, and I don't understand your misplaced anger and rage ("...I am so pissed off now I can scream.")
This child isn't your burden to bear, and (thankfully) your decision as to her fate.
Regards
Your reply indicates you are not following the discussion.
This discussion certainly has made the point that "ugly" need have nothing to do with how one's face looks, hasn't it?
Dan
Biblical Christianity web site
Biblical Christianity message board
Biblical Christianity BLOG
Your comments brought tears to my eyes. The world needs more people like you.
You have a currup sense of God.
certainly make you wonder though... the grace of God was not the first thing on my mind :( Some people's immediate reactions to things isn't to praise God first (probably should be though).
Really though --- we're all less than perfect. At what point should we not be helped?
She still has a soul and a heart --- and her life. Let her parents love her --- if her parents love her she's got more than a lot of beautiful but abused and neglected children.
Sometimes an ill placed inspirational story isn't very inspirational. People spouting platitudes to people who are suffering are personally annoying to me and it has happened to me before. However, it's rare. Seeing as how no was there and can read this mom's mind how does anyone know that she didn't have a reaction like yours and then changed her mind later? I've been through a lot of SH*T and have had the range of opinions about God so eh FWIW... I didn't think the baby was a genetic mistake BUT I wasn't praising God either.
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