You guys are praying for us, like really praying for us and we can feel it.
We are so humbled by your prayers.
Thursday was our anatomy scan for our twins and even though we get ultrasounds every week, this was the big one where the doctors look at all their fingers and all of their toes- which they have!
Our doctors are still giving us the diagnosis of limb body wall complex (or something similar), which no baby has survived but we go to each appointment with an open mind that anything can happen.
I intentionally shared about the babies on facebook the day before thinking maybe some friends from church would pray with us.
Woah, you guys. Woah. I never thought so many people would respond. And you all are still praying! To be honest I was nervous about telling our story on facebook because so many people have questioned why we would keep this pregnancy if the babies have a fatal diagnosis.
The answer is, God is in control and He is good all of the time. Tom came home from work Wednesday night and I said, “Tom, people are praying, like really praying.” His response was what did you expect? I guess I don’t know.
Tom was able to go with me to the anatomy scan and I will always be thankful to his boss for that.
Truthfully, most of the time we have no idea what we are looking at on ultrasound. But it is precious time with the babies. Funny thing: at one point our ultrasound said, “well no hands then”, because one baby’s hands were in a little fist and she couldn’t quite see them. I didn’t even flinch, just thought- add it to the list, we will pray for hands. Limb body wall complex means abnormal findings like no hands, no legs. But then she said, “today”. Meaning baby A has hands but she just couldn’t see them ‘today’. I guess it’s not funny at all but it was to me. Our babies have both arms, both hands, both legs and both feet- that is amazing.
Another funny thing that is maybe not funny at all- we never got to talk to the doctors about the results of our anatomy scan.
The scan took two and a half hours. But I had another appointment to go to. I am pretty sure they still think both babies have limb body wall complex or the equivalent as our maternal fetal medicine told us- no change, one baby has fluid in the abdomen but it’s not concerning and one baby may have a cleft palate.
Still not sure if they will live. Still not sure if they will die.
And that was it. The appointment took all day. But we got to see our babies, we had lunch together (shout out to flamers chicken, our go to at Johns Hopkins’ cafeteria) and best of all we felt God’s grace all around us. All around us.
As I was jogging down the hall trying to find a bathroom, I saw a precious girl standing on her IV being pushed by her mom down the hall. She looked so sick. I stopped right there and felt the weight of it. All of this. What parents will do for their children, what doctors will do to for their patients. And I started praying for her, I said God, give her all of the prayers we are getting, give her all of the healing we are asking for. Give them to her and her mom. We even haven’t met our babies yet but that mom has a little girl alive and she is suffering- it was hard but as God stopped me, He reminded me, there is enough for her and me and the babies and all of us. Oh Jesus, there is enough for all of us.
God is so good you guys. We are thankful for our doctors, for being able to go to Johns Hopkins and for getting to see our sweet babies so often. And the power prayer is real. We are feeling it and witnessing to the truth that God hears our prayers.
Our hearts are forever changed,
Tom and Emily
17 Comments
Anne
May 27, 2018 at 6:44 pmContinued prayers for you, Tom and the babies! Thank you for the post(s) … you don’t know who you may be encouraging and letting others know how big out God is. Love you!
Debra Bythewood
June 2, 2018 at 7:03 pmPraying for you and your family. Thanks for following God instead of the doctors he can totally and completely healed those sweet angels. I’m not saying he always gives us the answers we ask for but he can. God bless you and your family
Devona
May 29, 2018 at 1:17 amYou are truly amazing & just reading your story has touched me. God is so good!!! & YES HE HAS ENOUGH & IS ENOUGH TO HEAL ALL THINGS!!! I am agreeing with you in prayer for your babies & for that other little girl. God bless you all in JESUS NAME & BY HIS BLOOD YOU ARE HEALED!! AMEN
Katrina
May 29, 2018 at 4:34 amI just read your story and I’m in tears. Lord, wrap your healing arms around those babies and make them whole. I will pray for your babies and family every day. Our God is amazing!
Will continue to follow your blog for updates!
Lisa
May 29, 2018 at 8:20 pmThe power of his name.. bless your little family for having the power to be strong. I know there’s days you just need a shoulder to cry on and a hug to make your day better. I’m sending both to you. God is the healing man that can change this world in a second. I have seen a lot these last 6 months. My mom fell off a chair at work . Mind you she’s 67 worked every day. Busy lady, never sick. She hurt her hip and needed a replacement. The chest X-ray for surgery approval showed a mass.. and long story shortened. She has lung cancer. If she hadn’t fallen off that chair, hurt her hip we would have not known she had lung cancer that’s already spread to the brain.!!! God shows us what we need to see when we’re supposed to see..!This week is her last round of chemo. The cancer is shrinking!! She won’t go back for 3 months now and when her strength is back she’s having hip surgery!!! God is awesome ??
Tammy
May 30, 2018 at 1:41 amPrayers for your family. God is able to go above and beyond anything we can imagine. Thank you for sharing your story.
Teresa Keller
May 31, 2018 at 12:09 pmI am praying for your sweet babies and for your family. Thank you for trusting God to decide about these babies and not following advice to abort them. I pray for a total miracle!
Rita Bryant
May 31, 2018 at 8:06 pmMay our God continue to touch those precious babies of your. We know that he hears our prayers. That he is a healing God. Prayers for you all.
Lots of prayers coming your way.
Rita & Terry Bryant
Amy
May 31, 2018 at 9:58 pmPraying for you and your little babies!! I am praising your faith, the miracle of these babies, and for your testimony. I will continue to pray for you.
Karin Chambers
June 1, 2018 at 12:12 pmPraying for you all!
Ashley
June 1, 2018 at 1:42 pmI found your blog through a link on a friend’s wall. In 2010, we found out our 4th child had multiple birth defects. I carried her to 33+ weeks (everyone we saw, medically, was impressed I carried her that long). She had anencephaly (I don’t recommend Googling it, basically the top of her skull didn’t from and it alone is always fatal) as well as a trisomy – either Down Syndrome or Trisomy 13 or 18. We knew God was capable of healing her, but we felt right away, that He wasn’t going to. I can’t explain how we just ‘knew’.
Anyway. My heart breaks for you guys, for the uncertainty, and I am praying for a miracle. Every day I carried her was a blessing. Some people really didn’t understand that it was ok, hard, but it was a blessing to be her mama and keep her safe inside just as long as I could. One day at a time, one moment at a time when necessary. ~ gentle hugs ~
Lisa Romero
June 2, 2018 at 2:19 pmPraying
Victoria
June 2, 2018 at 4:41 pmYour story is touching people in a way I’m sure you never imagined, the bible says faith the size of a mustard seed can move moutains… what a mighty God we serve . What a Glorious king of kings who’s merciful and loving and so kind. These babies were sent to you for a reason and no matter how long or short their journey may be I pray that you feel how special and magnificent you are YOU must be to touch all these hearts and to be chosen.. ♡♡ I pray for wisdom and knowledge of the doctors ,ultrasound techs and team it will take when your amazing miracles are ready to come and I pray for God’s will and God’s plan to reveal itself to you …
Jane
June 2, 2018 at 4:46 pmI stumbled upon your Facebook post today and liked your blog page to keep up with the story God is writing for you. I will be praying for those beautiful babies. God is at work knitting them in your womb for His glory, the Psalms tells us that. There is a song I heard recently called Sovereign Over Us. Find that song and listen to it. There is truth in every line. Thank you for the testimony you are giving of God’s goodness. It may not always turn out the way we would want or think it should but His ways are higher than ours and our understanding of the universe He alone created is limited. God bless you and your family.
Kim
June 3, 2018 at 5:40 pmThose babies are fearfully and wonderfully made. You’re learning that verse deep and wide. They are blessed that you were chosen to be their parents….and you are blessed that God chose you to go through this journey of life with them…wherever it takes you. Such sweetness that you already seem to understand the big picture. Praying for you all.
Karen
June 6, 2018 at 1:45 pmReading your story is remarkable. The trust and faith you have in Jesus is awesome. God is a healer. The never ending faith even when the doctors say no hope . You have faith and hope in Jesus the ultimate healer and creator of all. Your family is in my prayers and believing for healthy babies . Your story is very encouraging to read.
Hattie
June 8, 2018 at 4:09 pmYour faith is so encouraging. As I read your post I could truly feel the Holy Spirit in every word. I am praying and believing with you and I cannot wait to see what our God does. Our God is not a “half way God” when his hand touches it, it is made entirely perfect and whole. I’m expecting the miraculous for you and your family. What a mighty testimony you will all have