Value in the Unvalued

We live in such a disposable society.  If something breaks we throw it away, we easily grow tired of things and just discard them.  If it is not shiny and new nobody wants it.  People give up on marriage so easily because it is so easy to give up and quit.  Nobody wants to put effort into making things work.  That or they just don't see the value in it.  A small blemish in the packaging will cause us to walk away from an item.   Old and reliable has been thrown to the wayside.

The more statistics I hear about pregnancies that have an early diagnosis of Downs Syndrome the more disgusted I am.  The world makes it so easy for women just to "give up" on their baby because it is not going to be what they expect.  I hear of doctors actually trying to talk women into aborting their child with Downs Syndrome.  I heard one story of a doctor yelling at a mother of a newborn with DS who chose not to have prenatal screening done saying she was irresponsible to bring that child into the world!

What is it that makes people think that there is no value to these lives?  Why does the world view a person with Downs Syndrome as less of a person than someone who does not?  Lack of education maybe?  If it is not easy it has no value?  I just don't understand.  Just because a person comes in a package that looks a little different then average does not make them less loved by God.  Just because it takes them longer to catch on to something does not mean that they can not contribute to the world or make a difference to someone.  It frustrates me and for the life of me I can not figure out how someone can feel this way!

Maybe they just don't know anyone with DS.  Perhaps they shield themselves from anything different because they are scared and it is easier to avoid the person then it is to learn about them.  I will tell you in my 10 months with Preston, anyone who looks at him and takes the time to come see him will walk away with a smile on their face.  I have never seen anything like it.  He has such charisma!  It is unreal, people I do not even know want to see him, they want to be involved with him, he makes anyone who meets him happy.  He changes them just a little.

I am not sure what God has planed for this little baby, but I am telling you it is going to be amazing!  I felt this way ever since I found out that he could possibly have DS.  I am not sure how to explain it without everyone thinking I am a total nut, but God just makes me feel like this child is destined for something great.  He is amazing and has changed all of our lives.

I am so glad that my own personal beliefs do not allow me to devalue a life God has placed in this world.  God does not make mistakes and for some reason, despite all of our faults,  he has trusted Eric and I with this precious life.  How exciting is that!

Another Hurdle

My boy who has already overcame so many hurdles in life has a big one he is facing.  On February 12th he will be going in for his 3rd and most intense surgery to date.  The surgery is called a pull through.  He has Hirschsprungs Disease, basically that means part of his bowl does not function correctly so the surgeon needs to bypass the part that is not working and pull the good part down and reattach.  Sounds simple enough, but it is scheduled to take up to 6 hours!  This was one of the reasons he got the colostomy bag when he was 3 weeks old.  He was too little for this major surgery so that was done as a band aid for the problem until he got larger.  So now at 10 months old he is ready!

How do I feel?  Freaking out a little!  I am excited to move on with our lives....the colostomy bag will be gone after this and we knew this surgery was looming ahead of him, but at the same time I am not liking the fact that my sweet 10 month old baby has to go into surgery yet again!   I really don't like that it is going to be so long and I hate to see him in the hospital yet again!  

Yet, I know this too is all in God's hands.  I have trusted God this far and even when I felt like I had no strength left, he helped me through!  Plus lets face it, Preston has the hard part and he is as happy as can be!  That boy laughs all the time and smiles whenever you look at him.  My sweet boy has such joy!  He has been through so much, way more than any child should have to go through and he is so happy! I know God will see us all through this trial.

I am not sure if I shared this on here or not, but I want to let you in on our exciting news!   Preston's VSD is closing on it's own and it looks like he can avoid getting surgery on his heart!  Great news and while it is not closed all the way yet, it looks like it is not something we are going to have to go into surgery for.  Also the fact that he is growing strong and eating well are all good signs that his little heart is healing.  

I ask that all who read this remember to say extra prayers for Preston as we prepare for surgery.  Pray that God guides the hands of the surgeons and that there is little scaring inside from previous surgeries.  Pray that God gives Preston strength and heals him quickly afterwards and that he has no pain.  

This boy is going to have such a wonderful story to tell someday and I for one am so happy to be sharing it with him!