The Heather Faith Project : An Honest Miracle

How close have you ever been to a miracle?  I’m not talking about Sunday School answer miracles, as in “Every breath is a miracle.”  Very true.  Yes is it.  If we look around us we will soon discover that our lives are full of miracles.  That the very way God has put together our bodies and this world is indeed a miracle.

But today I’m talking about a miracle in a secular sense.  A moment or occurrence that defies everything that we know.  Something that so totally goes against the grain of the laws of nature we know it must be guided by the hands of God.

To be honest with you…I can’t think of a time that that has happened in my life.  However, a miracle of this calliber is unfolding very close by.  And I would love to share it with you today.

You see, this huge miracle showed up on January 1st in a very tiny package.  To be exact, a 5lb, 2 oz package named Heather Faith.  Heather was born to a lovely military couple stationed here in Minot with us.  The father, Thomas is a B-52 pilot in the same squadron as Derek.  The mother, Jess is a wonderful dancer who teaches classes on base.  You’re getting the picture…young, strong, fit, God-fearing couple gets pregnant, has baby.

This is where the miracle really kicks in.  Jess had a totally normal pregnancy.  She was admitted to the hospital on December 31, 2012 to have labor induced.  Around 2pm on New Year’s Day Heather Faith was born.  Immediately doctors saw red flags and she was air lifted with her daddy to Denver’s NICU.  Jess joined them about 24 hours later.

It was there determined that Heather Faith was born with a rare chromosomal disorder called Complete Trisomy 22.  This means that she has three copies of chromosome 22 in her body.  This disorder is very serious and has left Heather with a list of medical issues including:  the inability to breath without a ventilator, a missing kidney, an enlarged frontal lobe, multiple holes in her heart, a hole in her diaphragm, and glaucoma in both eyes.

Trisomy 22 usually causes miscarriages in the first trimester of pregnancy.  Those babies that survive full term are usually stillborn.  Those who survive birth are given a life expectancy of 3-4 days.  What makes Heather so miraculous is not simply that she survived labor…but that she continues to survive and fight for life.  As I write to you today Heather Faith is 13 days old.  She has stunned doctors and nurses with her strength and will to live.

It’s very obvious that Heather Faith is one tough cookie.  Her wonderful mommy and daddy have said that they will fight aggressively for her life as long as she continues to fight.  We all know this baby is not a quitter.  She is a miracle, a survivor, a precious gift from God himself.

Thomas and Jess know that the road ahead will require patience and perseverance.  Their attitude continues to inspire all of us here praying on the home front.  Instead of assuming a victim’s posture, these two have stood strong in their faith.  They have used this as an opportunity to anxiously wait for God to show up and do His work.  They have waited for God’s glory to be shown through this situation.  I know God has chosen these very special parents because they are the right mommy and daddy for this perfectly, wondrously made child.

Our military family has rippled outward as we recruit more and more prayer warriors to join us on our knees interceding for the life of this precious, miraculous gift.  God will be made known through the life of Heather Faith.  For when the world declares something weak, Christ makes it strong.  When the world declares something impossible…Christ ceases the opportunity to show His power, love and strength.

So please…I’m writing you to encourage you through this story.  To show you that God is working miracles.  To show you that God is here and living.  But I’m also writing to ask for your prayers.  For Heather Faith, for Thomas and Jess.  For aunts, uncles, grandparents, god-parents and friends across the country and around the world.

If you’d like more information on this family or how you can help please visit this site.  While you’re there be sure to visit the Gallery and look at the photos.  And make sure you watch the video in the gallery.  This family is sweeter than Peach Rings.  I know you’ll fall in love with Heather Faith.  We all have.

Please pray.

Amy