Posted on 01/29/2006 7:14:53 PM PST by Coleus
In 1999 my son was given a prenatal diagnosis of "fetal anomalies incompatible with life". I was offered "choices".
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In 1999 my son was given a prenatal diagnosis of "fetal anomalies incompatible with life". I was offered "choices". I could've flown to Wichita, Kansas and had Isaiah's life taken by inducing labor. The literature assured me I would deliver a dead infant. He would've been given a fatal shot so he wouldn't have to "endure the painful birthing process". How thoughtful! They'd even sell me a "miscarriage certificate". I was given another "choice. We could arrange to give birth and not offer intervention. No, I didn't like that either. Our choice rested in trusting God. If the child's condition was truly "incompatible with life", God would take care of when, where, and how he would die. Let God be God, the doctors could doctor and I'd be a momma.
There's only One who can judge the quality of a man's life, short or long. Isaiah had "quality of life". Isaiah had two parents who loved him and showered him with kisses and holding. He had a big brother and two sisters who loved to hold him. His hospital visitors were so many the nurses scolded us. Once home from his twelve-day hospital stay, his nursery was set up in the living room near a sunny window. There he could feel the warmth of the sun and see his visitors as they came to admire him and bring presents and pray for him. He was born the day after Mother's Day. His 32-day life meant he never knew what it was to be cold or experience winter. He liked to suck on his binky. Some babies don't, but momma's little Binky Boy did. He was only able to suck from a bottle maybe twice but oh, how he loved it! He sat in an infant swing a few times next to the teddy bear his sissy gave him. Being held was his favorite thing, especially by momma. A couple of his visitors said they saw him smile. I didn't, but I knew he felt happiness and contentment. The oxygen saturation monitor allowed us to "see" how love can strengthen a failing heart. While being held, his oxygen saturation would rise to 100 percent for a few moments as though there were no hole in his heart.
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There's only One who can judge the quality of a man's life, short or long. Isaiah had "quality of life". Isaiah had two parents who loved him and showered him with kisses and holding. |
On his last full day, the oxygen saturation sank until at evening it hovered at 65%. His big sissy, just turned five, asked to hold him one more time. Emily held him close and kissed him and told him things five year olds tell babies. Isaiah liked that! His oxygen saturation SHOT back up to 100 and stayed there for several minutes. Later his daddy (some little boys don't have one you know) kneeled down to whisper sweet daddy things to his little boy and gently stroked his forehead. Oh, Isaiah liked that too! He loved his daddy. His oxygen saturation SHOT to the top once more and the LED lights of the machine glowed 100. We announced Isaiah was dying and might not be with us past the night. Everyone cried and kissed the baby and told him good-bye. Some people don't have anyone to kiss them good-bye, but Isaiah did.
He made it through the night and was given another round of kisses and tears and good-byes the next morning by his adoring siblings. The babysitter arrived and scooted the children off so mommy and daddy could be alone with their son for the last time.
Isaiah died that morning with dignity. Dignity means no one killed him and he wasn't alone. His momma's arms were around him through the whole process. Some babies don't die with dignity. About fifty million babies have died legally without dignity since January 22, 1973.
When will it stop?
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AMEN!
Good article. I was afraid from reading the title that this would be one of those liberal pro-euthansia pieces. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.
His return isn't going to be gentile for those that do not believe that he is the Messiah and trust in that. Among other things, given homosexuality making a bee-line for Sodom & Gomorrah, I wonder how much longer it will be.
Whaht a moving story of those last hours with baby Isaiah.
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"I am the way and the truth and the life"AMEN!!!! Thank you (*visualops*)
I agree.
Thanks for posting this. It took a long time to read due to my monitor becoming very blurry. That child had more love in a month than many children get in years. Bless this family.
This is one of our great Alaska families, and one of our great Alaska women. I'm glad her story is getting this coverage.
I was afraid that the article was going to suggest starving newborns with birth defects. Mercifully, the author of the article came up with the right solution rather than the "final solution".
Monitor is getting blurry...
Is your tagline in relation to the Divine Mercy?
So beautiful. I am going to share this story all around. Thanks. We disagree on IVF but we agree 100% on this. Every baby deserves this kind of love and care, no matter how soon G-d needs him back.
And this dear little one did not have a tube forced down the throat or other "heroic" measures. They made the choice that God would know when was the time to bring the baby "home".
My mother insisted she did not want to die in a hospital or nursing home. My last gift to her was an at home death.
"Dignity means no one killed him and he wasn't alone."
Excellent definition. Great post!
Tear-filled bump.
Yes it is. Also, my wife is Polish.
So touched am I by this post that I have tears in my eyes as I type...Thank you for letting your son live...32 days of life is 32 days of life.I My parents kept me...O say but I'm glad...And thank-filled!
The story doesn't tell us...I would presume he was baptised.
I think baptism is a very important item to have omitted in the story, unless the writer(s) had a reason.
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