Gift From 316: Streams and Deserts

Michael Jesse

On October 13th, 2009 we found out that our unborn baby, who we now know as Michael Jesse, was diagnosed with Bilateral Renal Agenesis, otherwise known as Potter's Syndrome, a fatal condition. Michael came into our world and left for heaven on January 22nd, 2010, but not without impacting hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of people by his short, little life.

Michael was the gift God brought into our lives in room 316. Our desire for this blog is to bring glory to God for knitting together such a beautiful life. You will find the journey which we have been on since October 13th, 2009, with all of our prayer requests and our personal reflections. The story of this journey has not ended, for as Michael dances in Heaven, we await to be reunited with him in glory.

To start at the beginning, below are the first posts we wrote about Michael:

October 13th Began With Hope
by Rick

Carrying Through
by Summer

These organizations helped us in this difficult journey

The Haven Network - A Perinatal Hospice based in Rockford, IL.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep – An International Organization Dedicated to Providing Professional Photography for Child Loss

Bella Vie Studio - Kristin was our amazing photographer who did our pregnancy shoot and was there to take pictures of Michael’s birth to help us remember his every feature. She did this as a service through Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep and we are forever grateful for this ministry.

Living Grace Community Church - Our church home through whom God used to serve us with meals, cards, encouragement and love through our journey of grief.

Kahle Moore Funeral Home - Steve Moore’s professionalism, sensitivity and care helped us during a very difficult time.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Streams and Deserts

Two years ago today I experienced the most peace and sadness in all my life as time seemed to stand still for me. While many saints were on the steps of the supreme court protesting for the right for unborn babies to live, our Michael was being carried to heaven to live a healed life with God.

We were advised to abort Michael at 20 weeks, but I'm so thankful to God for allowing me to experience both the peace and sadness, the stream and the desert place all at once at his full term birth and death. It is really amazing to fall completely helpless into God's arms and to have God lovingly strengthen you when you have no strength. This is peace that surpasses my understanding and it is a glorious place to be.

Michael's life cannot be separated from the fabric of our lives that God is weaving together. I miss him - he's my boy. But I will remain steadfast in my hope to see him again anew.