In our grief,
loss,
disappointments,
betrayals,
sin,
heartbreak,
fear,
insecurity,
brokenness,
joy,
triumphs,
miracles,
peace,
restoration,
reconciliation,
forgiveness,
healing,
and love,
Jesus is there.
For nine months, my wife Brooklyn carried our baby boy knowing he was dying. Three months in, they told us he had severe hydrocephalus. Too much fluid crushing his brain. "Off the charts bad," the specialists at Cincinnati Children's said. So extreme they stopped measuring because it didn't matter anymore.
The MRIs were sickening to look at. They said over 90% chance he'd either die right after birth or survive with such severe brain damage that any quality of life was impossible. We had meetings about breathing tubes. About when to remove life support. About letting our son "pass peacefully."
Brooklyn moved to Cincinnati, lived in a hotel near the hospital in case she went into labor. I drove back and forth, working, trying to hold our family together while planning our baby's funeral. On July 8th, fifteen minutes before her C-section, we had another meeting about the breathing tube. About when we'd need to remove it and let him go to Heaven.
Then Charlie came out crying. The sweetest sound I've ever heard.
He stayed in intensive care until yesterday. Now he's home, doing everything babies do. Normal. Beautiful. The doctors have no medical explanation. His brain somehow cleared the blockage on its own, something they've never seen in a case this severe. Nurses with decades of experience kept saying "miracle" and "divine intervention."
Thousands of people were praying for us. Friends, family, strangers, people we'd never met. I'm practical, I believe in science, but I know God was involved in this. I give Him all the credit.
During those endless nights in Cincinnati, I started woodworking in the hotel parking lot just to keep my hands busy, to stop my mind from breaking. Made small toys hoping one day Charlie might hold them. Listed a few things on the Tedooo app where I'd been selling my work, and strangers started buying pieces they didn't need, sending messages saying they were praying for our son. That community held me when I couldn't stand.
Charlie's here. He's alive. Prayer is real, and miracles still happen.
By Amanda Cain
Zohran Mamdaniβs first order of business as mayor-elect was jet-setting to Puerto Rico for a six-day stay at the ritzy Caribe Hilton in San Juan.
Average nightly rate: $700β$800.
Suckers.
@chipgaines Hi Chip! I'm Marlene and I teach 6th and 7th grade students in NYC. The items on the list are for students to create STEM Projects. Thanks for helping teachers!
https://t.co/HTM3LKPYRt
π Teachers are MAGIC! π
Another MagicSchool ππͺ #clearthelist contest for a $100 Amazon gift card
1. Follow @MagicSchoolai
2. Like & Retweet this post
3. Tag 3 teacher friends in the comments
Winner will be selected at the end of the week!
#Magicschoolai#Teachersaremagic
@i_teach_littles Thank you for helping #ClearTheList. I am a teacher in NY and our students and Covid is still lingering here, so students can't share supplied. I just have a few more items on my list. https://t.co/GHFhA2sp9S