A little over two years ago, our son, Tucker, entered the world in a way that we would have never imagined happening. Due to my elevated blood pressure, he was born 6 ½ weeks early via emergency C-section. He weighed 4 pounds and was 16 inches long. Instead of being able to hold my son and enjoy his first moments in this world, he was whisked away to the NICU where he was hooked up to numerous machines. I did not get to hold him until he was almost a week old, and the entire experience was frightening.
Tucker encountered several issues in the NICU. He was always able to breathe without a ventilator, but he had to have supplementary oxygen and a feeding tube. He was jaundiced, so he had to go through phototherapy, and his tiny veins were so overworked that they eventually had to put in an IV through his forehead. Tucker was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had several episodes in the hospital where his heart rate plummeted. The alerting sounds of the numerous monitors are things we will never forget. Tucker was sent home with a heart monitor for a few months. Because of his prematurity, Tucker had a tough time eating, so he lost 1 ½ pounds while in the NICU. Normally, babies lose weight after being born, but when you only weigh 4 pounds to begin with, that’s a significant amount to lose.
As parents, we felt lost and helpless while our first child endured such a rough beginning in his life. We did not know anyone who had experienced something like this, so we had no one to talk to. We frequented the chapel inside the hospital and often asked God, “Why us?” But God had different plans for us. Of course, He knew that He was going to deliver us from this awful situation and that we would eventually be able to help others who experience similar situations. Just like in Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," we knew that we had to rely on God because we couldn't get through this alone.
When Tucker was released two weeks later, we were excited and thankful for everything the hospital staff did to help Tucker progress. We sought out ways to give back, and I was put in contact with a woman who does a great deal of work with the March of Dimes. She helped us start Tucker’s Closet, a clothing closet for babies in the NICU so that they could have clothes to wear while they were in the hospital.
We were also selected to be the local March of Dimes Ambassador Family for 2008-2009. We spoke at several public events and shared our experiences. We helped to encourage families who were going through similar situations. Our family team, Tucker’s Trekkers, helped raise thousands of dollars for the March of Dimes to help fund important research in the field of neonatology. Recently, a friend of ours had a scare in the hospital with their newborn. They immediately thought of us after their baby was taken to the NICU, and we were able to pray with them and counsel them while dealing with the scary situation they were facing.
All too often, we find ourselves in the midst of a crisis that we had never imagined would have happened, and we wonder why it had to happen to us. We start to feel lost and hopeless, but God delivers us from our fears. He wraps his arms around us comforts us if we trust in Him. Romans 8:28 states: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." It's up to us to turn things over to God. James 1:2-4 reminds us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Today, Tucker is a happy, healthy two-year old. He has had a tough road with physical and developmental delays, but we are encouraged by the fact that he will be able to share his story with others in the future and let his experience serve as a reminder that God is in total control.
[ Submitted by Mandy & Nate Young ]
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