There are some times in life when God's Grace seems so present.
When His Hand is clearly on you or a loved one.
I have been blessed to know God's Grace many times in my life.
Below is one such occasion.
I have footnoted some points to bring special attention so that God may get the Glory
and you may also rejoice with me in His Goodness and Grace.
So that I will remember.
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Henry (1) was 4 weeks old. I had just been on a big walk with my sisters and mother in law (2). I had a quick errand to do and my mother in law offered to watch Henry for the 20 minutes it would take me to run this errand.
I came home to find an ambulance in front of my house and a stretcher on the front porch (3).
Henry had stopped breathing (4) and my mother-in law quickly called 911. By the time I arrived home Henry was breathing fine (5) and was ok other then a little bit nervous around the paramedics and their equipment.
My Mom and I (6) had already long self-diagnosed him with laryngomalacia. Within a few days of birth Henry began to make a funny noise which we soon learned was called a stridor (also self-diagnosed). This stridor became much more pronounced and worrisome as each week of his new life passed. When we finally got a referral to a specialist we were disappointed to be told that we had several months to wait. Didn't they know my son sounded like he was struggling to breathe almost 24 hours a day?
Well, after the ambulance incident Henry quickly became a priority (7) and we were seen by the pediatric ENT specialist (8) immediately upon arrival at the Hospital (9).
He had a laryngoscopy, our diagnoses was confirmed. The Doctor had us spend the night while Henry's oxygen was monitored. The ENT felt that Henry's oxygen results were abnormal and surgery could be required. A respirologist reviewed Henry's results (10) and found them normal for an infant and suggested anti-reflux medication (reflux is a common symptom of laryngomalacia) while we went home and watched to see how his condition progressed, and would come back 6 weeks later (11).
In that 6 weeks Henry's sleeping and eating habits VASTLY improved (12). His stridor remained the same (13) but that was to be expected. It was now just a waiting game -Laryngomalacia is a condition children grow out of. (14)
Several months later I find myself again in the specialist's office. I have a follow up appointment. Over the past few months I have miraculously watched as his stridor decreased. Yesterday I was told I didn't have to come back. Henry was through it. (15) Only because of God's Grace.
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Footnotes:
(1) - Henry, one of God's most precious gifts to me
(2) - Wonderful in-laws
(3) - Truly amazing and caring paramedics.
(4) - If Henry hadn't stopped breathing we would have waited months to see a specialist.
(5) - Henry started breathing again. Praise God.
(6) - A Mom/Grandma who researched incessantly. She correctly diagnosed his breathing sounds and condition.
(7) - We had an appointment immediately
(8) - The student Doctor recognized Henry. She just happened to be at the hospital where he was born, and while I recovered from my c-section, she was the doctor who had Henry's case. Therefore she was very familiar with Henry's history (he had some trouble after birth).
(9) - We live 8 minutes away from an incredible Children's Hospital. We have publicly funded Health Care system.
(10) - The ENT wasn't too proud to seek out another opinion. Had we sought his opinion we could have had to wait for an appointment. Instead we had to very gifted doctors debating over my son's medical case.
(11) - A mild medication seemed like a MUCH BETTER option than surgery
(12) - Henry had been a slow to gain weight previously. I was now getting much more sleep.
(13) - It didn't get worse
(14) - While a worrisome condition, it would not be a life long battle.
(15) - Hallelujah!
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I realize that many people go through situations much more trying then my own.
This was just intended to remind myself of God's Grace in this case.
No matter the trial may I always remember:
We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28
