Giving birth to a child is one of the greatest gifts a family can have, "the gift of life." A Miracle Named David is a book filled with tears and laughter, as this compassionate grandmother shares her heart and testimony concerning her special grandchildren. She shares the births, health problems and triumphs. This book celebrates the way her faith helped her to deal with the health challenges that beset the newborns. She informs the readers of the ins and outs of neonatal intensive care, better known as NICU. A Miracle Named David is a heart-warming true story of the unanticipated journey during the mother's pregnancy and premature delivery of her newborn. During the pregnancy she was given the odds that her baby had a one percent chance of survival and everything looked hopeless in the beginning, but the story did not end there. Dorothy also shares how NICU would be revisited in the next few years by three other grandbabies. Anyone reading this book will release doubt and know that miracles really do happen. The experience gives us a fresh awareness of God's presence and his healing power. It was through unity in prayer by family, friends and strangers that changed the circumstances in the lives of all four newborns. Miracles do happen and this book is truly the story of "A Miracle Named David".
A Miracle Named David
Beating the OddsBy DOROTHY FERRELLAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Dorothy Ferrell
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4634-2765-8Contents
Acknowledgments....................................................xviiIntroduction.......................................................xixChapter I. Writing about a Miracle.................................3Chapter II. The Breaking of the Water..............................13Chapter III. Bed Rest..............................................21Chapter IV. Birthing of a Miracle..................................29Chapter V. The First Three Years...................................41Chapter VI. Modern Medicine and Divine Healing.....................49Chapter VII. Dance Like David Danced...............................59Chapter VIII. The Unexpected Seizure...............................67Chapter IX. School Days............................................73Chapter X. NICU Revisited..........................................83Words from the Author..............................................93Prayer for Salvation and Return to Christ..........................95About The Author...................................................97
Chapter One
Writing about a Miracle
My pastor told me that I should write a book about David, because he was truly a miracle. It took seven years before my daughter agreed to let me start writing this book. It was very painful for Shonna to even talk about it, but now she knows that it is written to encourage other families that may be going through the same thing.
There were two mothers in this story: my oldest daughter, Shonna, a single mother and my daughter-in-law, Reneka, my son's wife; both went through high-risk pregnancies. My daughter gave birth to one premature baby and one full-term baby with challenges. My daughter-in-law gave birth to two premature babies.
As a parent, you hate to see any of your children go through pain; you would do anything in the world to make it all right if you could, but I couldn't. All this grandmother could do was to "pray until the answer came," and it did. Now I can write about it to share with others what an awesome God we serve.
Shonna and Reneka have shared their stories with other mothers, telling them about the birth of their babies and the challenges they faced with the babies.
David's first few years were spent going to see doctors on a more than regular basis. One day when David was being examined, he was crying; he had enough of being examined. It hurts. All of a sudden, we saw this tiny little hand reach out and hit the doctor. In other words, he was saying, "Stop, I had enough." When the examination was finally over, the tears stopped and he was in Mom's arms again.
Babies can't talk, but a mother knows her baby's cry; it could be a cry of pain or hunger, or maybe it's time for the diaper to be changed, or like all babies, he might just want to be held and loved. It's all a part of being a baby.
At the age five months, David was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. If you do not know what cerebral palsy is, the United Cerebral Palsy group defines it as follows:
Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development; before, during, or shortly after birth; or during infancy. Thus, these disorders are not caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. Instead, faulty development or damage to motor areas in the brain disrupts the brain's ability to adequately control movement and posture.
"Cerebral" refers to the brain and "palsy" pertains to muscle weakness or poor control. Cerebral palsy itself is not progressive (i.e., brain damage does not get worse); however, secondary conditions, such as muscle spasticity, can develop which may get better over time, get worse, or remain the same. Cerebral palsy is not communicable. It is not a disease and should not be referred to as such.
Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11
The Gift of Life
Giving birth to a child is one of the greatest gifts a family can have, "the gift of life." But to see a sick baby, who is not expected to survive, beat the odds is a miracle from God.
I do not know the pain and heartache inside that a mother feels when she is given bad news about her unborn child, but as a mother, I do know a mother's heart for my daughter and for my daughter-in-law, who both went through high-risk pregnancies.
When my daughter was on bed rest in my home, there were many long nights when I would hold a photo of the baby's sonogram and pray for God to intervene; he heard my cries, and I am forever grateful. I saw so many tiny little babies, and then I would see their heartbroken parents, worried that their little one may not survive. It truly was a roller-coaster ride with these little babies; their lives were hanging in the balance.
David is a living testimony of the gracious, loving, and caring heavenly father I serve. When all odds are against you, you can beat the odds.
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. Psalm 77:14
Miracles
Things happen in life that we call miracles. What is a miracle? A miracle is a "supernatural intervention of God." Dictionary.com says a miracle is "an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. Such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God. A wonder; marvel". Man can predict how things will turn out from research, studies, and their views on the subject, but so many times things don't turn out the way they were predicted. That's just life; we all can make predictions, but situations and circumstances are subject to change.
It's amazing how a tiny little embryo inside a woman's womb can grow and nine months later a little life is born. When I spoke with a young doctor doing his residency in Illinois, he told me some premature babies survive at twenty-four weeks.
When I was growing up my family included; my dad, mom, two older and two younger siblings; I was right in the middle. There were three girls and two boys. Whenever my mother went to the hospital to have a new baby, we waited expectantly to hear the good news. In those days, doctors couldn't tell you at four or five months what the sex of the baby was; with modern technology today, they can tell you right away. My, how technology is changing as I write this book.
Nine months was a long wait to find out, but that's what you had to do: wait. Then when the news came that the baby was born and it was a boy or a girl, everybody rejoiced. We would call other family members, tell the neighbors, and people were excited.
Also, as a mother carrying a baby, I couldn't wait to meet this little person that had been inside me. Then once it arrived, it didn't matter whether it was a boy or a girl, just as long as the baby was healthy.
I don't take anything for granted; I have learned to be thankful for everything in life. In today's fast-paced society, people often go through life merely existing, not really living. Everything is a rush, rush, rush, but it doesn't have to be. I was in that fast-pace rat race at one time, and it's insane: rushing here, rushing there, and all for what? Not enjoying life.
When you take time to smell the flowers and hear the birds chirping, it is a blessing. To take a ride by the ocean and see the water that extends for miles and miles, to fly over the mountains and see their beauty—these are all miracles. These are other miracles: for the sun to rise in the east and set in the west; for the moon to shine its light on a lake or ocean; to look up and see the sky on a clear day and breathe clean air (that truly is a miracle in our polluted society); to take a walk around the park and be able to have your health and strength (to be able to walk is a blessing; there are many people in hospitals and nursing homes that would love to be able to walk).
Take time to enjoy the sunshine, the rain, the snow, or whatever weather you may be experiencing; this is life. Take time to enjoy life and live it one day at a time to the fullest. Through all the years that I have lived, I learned to cherish every moment that was given to me. Miracles happen each and every day of our lives, whether we believe it or not. I am very grateful for each and every day.
I love encouraging e-mails, and recently I received one that listed "Five Simple Rules to be Happy." The author was unknown, but it was beautiful, it says:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simple.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
This was very encouraging, so I posted it on my Facebook site with friends and family. I believe when you live the simple life, you take time to enjoy the miracles and all the beauty that life beholds.
When you live near places that have natural beauty, for instance the oceans, mountains, deserts, canyons, and forests, you can get in a fast pace and not realize how beautiful nature is and the beauty that surrounds your day-to-day living.
When I moved away from California, my home state, I missed the mountains, the oceans, and the deserts. It's a joy to go back to visit family. When I fly over the deserts, mountains, or oceans and see their beauty, I appreciate the natural things in life. Even flying through the clouds is awesome. Whether you fly or drive, take a bus or a train, or just walk, go enjoy the beauty that's around you.
A few months ago, I flew back to California; just before we landed, we were flying over the snow-covered mountains. I had the window seat, and the couple sitting next to me was from the Southeast; this was their first visit to California, and they were thrilled to see the beautiful mountains. They asked if they could take pictures out my window, and of course I said yes. It was such a beautiful scene.
I hope, if you're not already doing so, that you take time to enjoy the miracles around you every day, because miracles do happen.
Chapter Two
The Breaking of the Water
David's story begins in the womb of my daughter Shonna—four and a half months into her pregnancy. One day in her second trimester, her water broke suddenly, and she was taken to the hospital. Shonna had a premature rupture of the membranes, which is why her water broke so early. My three pregnancies were all full-term births; all I remember is when the water breaks, it's time to head to the hospital because the baby is on its way. When Shonna's water broke, it was a sign that a miscarriage was about to take place, ending the pregnancy, but in this story, it was the beginning of a new life.
This little baby was not done; he spent another ten weeks in a dry womb. How could he survive a "dry birth"? The answer is someone took special care of him; the baby was in a special intensive care unit before birth; he was in God's Intensive Care Unit (GICU).
When Shonna arrived at the hospital, the doctor on duty wanted to immediately terminate the pregnancy. She was told that complications could set in, including fever and infection, and the baby wouldn't survive anyway. Shonna has faith and comes from a Christian background; after much prayer, she made the decision to go forward with the pregnancy.
As a little girl in Sunday school, she learned about the creator and giver of life; if it was meant for this baby to abort, it would do so naturally, but if this baby was meant to live, he would.
There is "faith" and then there is "foolish faith." I pray about everything; I don't want my will to be done, but the will of my heavenly father. This is why Shonna and the baby were placed on prayer lists for others to join us in prayer.
Neither Shonna nor the baby were in a life-threatening stage at this time; the fever and infection had not set in, and the baby was still alive in the womb. The heart was beating normally, so Shonna was sent home and placed on strict bed rest.
So Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief, for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
Beating the Odds
There are times when premature births, illnesses, or diseases may seem hopeless; doctors can do everything humanly possible through modern medicine, and when they have to let go, it's out of their hands; they can do no more. In this story, it was touch-and-go all the way through.
Shonna was referred to an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) specialist who gave her the worst-case prognosis; the baby was given a 1 percent chance of survival, and if he did survive, he would be in a vegetable state. But Shonna chose to have faith and trust God in spite of the medical reports. Christians were praying all over for Shonna and the baby, believing that God would bring this mother and baby through the darkest hours.
He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. Psalm 107:20 (AMP)
By His wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
After seeing the specialist, Shonna was told if she made it to twenty-six weeks in the pregnancy (which was ten weeks away), the baby had a chance for survival. Shonna was moved to our home, where we could take care of her. She was bedridden and could only go out for her medical exams.
For several years, I led a prayer group in my home on Monday nights; women and men would join in prayer for our country and its leaders, our families, and our schools. We were given prayer requests for people that were ill, needed jobs, had marital problems, and had problems with rebellious children; you name it, we prayed over all the requests.
After Monday night prayer, the group would always go upstairs and pray over Shonna and the little unborn baby in her womb. We all believed in faith that everything was going to be all right. The baby was still alive in the womb and the mother was doing as well as could be expected.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Faith
When your faith is tested to believe in things that look so impossible, it is not easy. We can have faith to believe for material things this world offers, or we can believe with someone you are not connected to for an answer to prayer. I pray for so many people who call me or send me an e-mail; it is part of my ministry, and I love to touch my faith with them and see the answers come.
Now my faith was being tested; could I stand in faith with my daughter, believing that the baby would survive against all odds? I had to keep feeding my mind Scriptures of hope and faith to encourage myself so I could encourage my daughter.
After church, it was so important for me to bring Shonna tapes from the Sunday sermon so she could hear the word for herself. Where does faith come from?
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10: 17
It's not just hearing the message and memorizing or repeating the Scriptures. It's not just speaking the word that produces faith; we have to speak the word in faith, and then the answer will come. The spoken word has to be mixed with faith to receive the answer. You have to believe in your heart that what you are saying will come to pass and not doubt.
All the diagnoses we were hearing seemed so hopeless, but we had to have faith to believe the word.
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Luke 18:27 (NKJV)
I've learned in life that when you have done everything you can, you have to let go of the problem and get focused on something else, and the answer will surely come.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
I am a Christian who has had "radical faith"; I believe the Bible is a roadmap for life for Christian believers. Anything you need to know about life is right there in the word. If he said it, he will do it. I've learned to believe the promises that are there to give us hope and encouragement.
For years, when I went to church, I would hear Christians sing that "God is an on-time God"; he may not come when you want him to, but he is always on time. The answer will come, and it will be for our good. All the waiting and trusting increases our faith and teaches us patience to wait on him.
God is not a human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Miracle Named Davidby DOROTHY FERRELL Copyright © 2011 by Dorothy Ferrell. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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