My Son, My Miracle Page 3

Just outside my delivery room door . . . 

Painting by:  Joseph Brickey

Oh, Hush Thee, My Baby

Oh hush thee my baby, a story I'll tell

How Little Lord Jesus on earth came to dwell.

How in a far country, way over the sea,

Was born a wee baby

My dear one like thee.

Lullaby baby, lullaby dear.

Sleep little baby

Have nothing to fear.

Lullaby baby, lullaby dear.

Jesus will care for his little one here.

--Joseph Ballantyne

Just outside my the delivery room door, Steve was shown an x-ray which revealed a large hole in Jared's diaphragm.  Jared's bowels and spleen had pushed through the hole and were lodged into his left chest cavity.  The doctor cautioned him that the mortality rate for a child born with a diaphragmatic hernia was high and that Jared's chances of surviving were "less than ten percent" even if taken into immediate surgery.  There was absolutely no hope without emergency  surgery.  He then asked Steve, "What do you want us to do?"  He explained that some parents elect to have their child kept comfortable until their body can no longer sustain life which, in Jared's case, may mean passing before the day's end.  Steve looked into the Doctor's eyes and pleaded with him to do everything they could to save him.

Steve asked the attending pediatrician if he might have a few moments to pray with our newly born son.  It was Steve's desire to perform the ordinance of giving this precious little spirit a "name and blessing," something usually done by the children's fathers in our churches' sacrament meetings.  This ordinance officially welcomes new little family members into the Church.  Grandparents, aunts and uncles and extended family are known to come from all over the country just to see their newest family members blessed.  The blessings that the fathers pronounce upon their children are beautiful.  They may tell their children how special they are and give thanks to Heavenly Father for sending such a choice spirit to be part of their family.  They may bless them with good health, the ability to learn and do well in school, to be a good example to their siblings and parents, and to find a righteious companion and be married in the temple, not just for time, but for eternity.

In Jared's case, it appeared that death was imminent.  Steve was led into the room where Jared lay.  There were at least ten people around him trying to keep him alive.  Unconfirmed at the time, Jared had only one lung and it had begun to collapse.  His color changed from blue to purple to almost black.  With all of the hustle around him, Steve could only get close enough to reach over and place two fingers on Jared's little brown-haired head.  As he started to pray, the room fell silent.  The blessing was short and to the point.  "Jared Robert Masten, it is by this name you will be known on the records of the church.  I bless you that if it be your Heavenly Father's will, you will make it through this surgery and be on the road to recovery and I do it in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen."

When Steve opened his eyes and looked up, every one in the room was crying. 

The flash of a camera--a polaroid snapshot was taken of Jared by one of the nurses so that we could have a picture of our son while he was still alive.

More to come . . .