Facing Mortality

Well, I just got the phone call I was hoping not to get. On Saturday, (if she makes it that far) my brother will be taking his older kids up to Primary Childrens to have Christmas with their baby. Then on Sunday they are taking her off the ventilator and letting her live as long as she decides to. The forcast isn't for a long time.

I'm surprised at the stability my brother maintains as he talks to me about it but I'm sure he and his wife have had more than enough tear-filled conversations and I also know I'm not the first person he calls. But still, saying goodbye in this mortal life is hard...even with the knowledge of eternal families. Yet, ever since they found out she had hypoplastic left-heart syndrom shortly after birth, they have had to face her mortality. Best case scenario is she could have gotten a heart-transplant around age 20 and have it take and live as long as she could with it. Most likely scenario was she lives to somewhere between 12 and 20 and her heart gives out and she dies then. Unfortunately, my family is not one that enjoys the best case scenarios very often. My mom had to lose her leg from the hip down (another story). This precious baby isn't going to last to her first birthday.

And so I sit here facing my mortality and thinking about my family and wishing I could change things for his. ****** I'm grateful I've gotten 5 healthy children despite wanting to give them away occassionally. I'm grateful for Jesus Christ and that he has made it possible for this sweet little baby to return to our Heavenly Father spotless.

It is sad and as my dear wife sniffled last night, "There are two things that shouldn't happen: Mom's shouldn't get sick and babies shouldn't die." Amen.


****** Continued the next morning.