Our Story...begins in a`small town where I, Shelly, was loving teaching 1st grade. Long story short, I met my prince charming and quickly followed him to Miami FL. We were married April 8th, 2006!
A year later we were excited, proud parents-to- be! We watched my baby belly for hours, played with the latest gadgets, read book after book, and prayed we could be good parents.
Our "Little Man" Carlos-Andres, was born July 12, 2008, at 1:34 am in the Miami Maternity Center. As with most Maternity Centers we were sent home just a few hours later with our bundle of joy and so much incredible hope for the future.
A NIGHTMARE, A BLESSING, AND A BEGINNING
Just two days later we found ourselves in the ER of Joe Dimaggio Children's Hospital. Our son had stopped breathing while nursing and simply looked like he had fallen asleep. As I watched him "sleep" I became worried and asked my sister if he looked ok, she quickly said no and began CPR. Our nightmare had begun. Everything we had hoped for was being torn into pieces and our hearts trampled on...
The doctors told us what I had only heard in movies, "The next 36-48 hrs. would be critical." I remember watching her speak and thinking "my son might not ever read". Such a strange thought to have when a doctor is telling you that your son might not make it through the day and if he does, we don't know with what kind of complications. I remember my mom said "but he could just come out of it and be ok, right?" Dr. Duncan said she wanted to be honest and in her experience with this it wasn't likely, but she was "all for miracles." My heart beat quickly and my arms were tingly the only thing I could do was rock back and forth. What had happened to my world?!!
We asked to see a chaplain and an older lady named Daisy came to see us. I was so hoping for her to give me some scripture or for her to tell me that everything was going to be okay, but she didn't. She prayed with us and kept saying, bless your heart. Yes, that's what I wanted, but I really wanted more! I wanted to see my Lord and have him heal my son miraculously!! And so we waited....
That night, after Carlos-Andres was "stabalized", my husband convinced me to go home to sleep. It was all so surreal, seeing the crib in our room without our baby broke my heart even more. I cried myself to sleep in my husbands arms.
The next day we returned to find him without the tube in his throat and I won't forget Dr. Duncan's words: "I'm sorry I told you all of that scary stuff yesterday, but the Lord blessed us in the night and he is doing well this morning!"
Over the next few days we would realize just how scary of a rollercoaster ride the Lord had allowed us to be strapped into. We baptized our sweet boy in the hospital and cried so many tears I felt we could fill the ocean with our sorrow. We listened and tried to breathe as doctors told us how he was doing and what kind of things to think about and expect in the upcoming days. We wondered if we would leave the hospital with our little one...
We did leave the hospital,3 weeks later. We are now much more aware that our stay was short compared to what some families endure, and we began a new journey... our new beginning.
Our road with our son has had many ups and downs, but I am now able to tell his story with new insight...it goes like this...
Carlos-Andres ran back for an extra hug and kiss from Jesus and he was sent back to us with some very special gifts that we get to help uncover. We pray the lord will reveal himself through our son in the gifts we find in Carlos-Andres!
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Carlos Andres and daddy after coming home from our Hospital stay!  |
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