Ten years, three miscarriages, two healthy sons and another baby on the way… the year was 2007.
The ultrasound tech silently searched the fuzzy black and white images then excused herself from the room, returning later with my OB/GYN. I was no stranger to ultrasounds. This pregnancy was officially my sixth and at 16 weeks had been progressing without complications other than extreme “morning sickness.”
I knew the only times they summoned a doctor were when something was wrong. The Dr quickly explained the baby girl I was carrying had two cysts growing on her brain, “prerequisites for Down Syndrome,” he said. He suggested amniocentesis to be sure, but either way he strongly recommended terminating the pregnancy before I was too far along for the “procedure.”
My husband and I immediately opted out of amnio or further testing. We didn’t need to decide if our baby girl would live because God had already made the final decision. We chose life that day, and every day since.
When my last trimester came, they gave me another ultrasound. Amazingly, though the tech searched and searched the screen, the cysts were gone.
In 2008, Lydia was born without complications. The same hands who suggested her life end were the same hands who held her as life outside the womb began.
Today, she is an active 4th grader. She loves horses, singing at the top of her lungs, and people. This year she is a member of an Invention club where she has invented a game to help make life easier for people on the autism spectrum. Her team will go to a competition next month!
Recently, she saw a man holding a cardboard sign on the side of the interstate. Her heart broke for him. She came home and made her own sign that reads, “God is with us. Believe in God. He will blow the trumpet and we will go up to heaven. Believe in God. I love God and Jesus.” She asked if she could stand on the corner holding her sign because she wanted others to know there is hope.
She’s right, there is hope, every life is important.