Guest Post by Misty Phillip
When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
As a pregnant woman, we are filled with hopes and dreams of all the possibilities that come with pregnancy, such as, will this be another boy? Or will we finally have a girl?
We all hope for a healthy pregnancy, and desperately want a healthy baby, but no parent ever dreams of having a special needs child..
My son was born with his feet upside down and backward. We knew he was breech, and that I would need to have a c-section, but we had no idea that he was going to be born with club feet.
As far as we could tell at the time, besides the club feet, he seemed healthy. When I finally got a chance to hold him, all I could think was that he was perfect.
But everything was far from perfect. Little did I know the roller coaster ride that would ensue over the next several years..
The Struggle of the First Years
In his first year of life, we were in and out of the hospital for surgery multiple times. And when we weren’t in the hospital, we were in the doctor’s office.
On one hospital stay, our son contracted the roto virus, which caused him to have diarrhea for almost two months. This was a nightmare for a baby with casts on both legs, stretching all the way up to his diaper!
He couldn’t nurse due to his underdeveloped suck-swallow response. And then came the ear infections, one right after another. I think he had 15 before his first birthday!
Later, he was hospitalized for RSV, and we stayed up all night praying over him in the hospital crib bed made of cold metal bars that closely resembled a prison.
And then the unimaginable happened. Our son began seizing continuously over the course of a couple of days! He didn’t stop seizing until he was pumped full of barbituites.
Our son vacillated between laying limp, and screaming at the top of his lungs. He didn’t sleep, and neither did we for years.
He didn’t walk when he was supposed to, and it took him years before he began to talk. Everything was a struggle for him.
Our Hope in the Struggle
We had no idea that our son’s brain was on fire. But God did. And nothing that happened to our son took God by surprise.
God chose us to be his parents because HE knew Connor needed us, but more importantly, I think we needed him.
Jesus offered me hope in the struggle of being a weary young mom coping with all of my son’s medical challenges. He has met me over and over again in the hard places. This is where Jesus has shown me how much He loves me and cares for me.
He will do that same thing for you, friend. All you have to do is call upon the name of the Lord.
Our son is now twenty years old, and we are still dealing with the ramifications of a brain injury that occurred as a baby. Every day is a struggle for him.
He struggles to communicate his thoughts and feelings. He is often in pain. Everyday tasks that are simple for everyone else to perform are incredibly difficult for him to manage.
But he is the happiest person on the planet! His smile lights up a room.
Filled with joy, he gregariously greets everyone with a hug and a smile. He makes you feel like you are the most important person in the world.
God has taught us so many things through our son! We are better people because Connor is in our life.
You may not have a child with medical issues or special needs, but chances are you have your own kind of hard.
I don’t know what struggles you are facing today, but I know the God who does. Nothing escapes His watchful eye. He loves you, He cares for you and He is there to offer hope in the struggle, and comfort right in the middle of your trial.
Prayer for Today:
Lord, help us to find to hope in the midst of our trial. Give us peace, because You are peace. Shower us with love because You are love, and be our ever present help in time of need. Amen.
To view all of the topics in this series, check out our Stories of Hope page, and discover how others have chosen to live a life of hope, despite life’s greatest challenges!
A Special Invitation
Join me for a further in-depth study on biblical promises for overcomers in ‘The Struggle is Real: But So is God,’ Bible Study.
Now is the time to know what God says about you and how you can live a victorious life.
Discover faith and integrity are the character qualities that are yours as an overcomer. Each in-depth study has thought-provoking questions to journal, so you will be able to see your personal growth.
The Struggle Is Real, But So Is God is a 6-week journey through the Bible that will:
- Equip you with empowering wisdom.
- Help you grow spiritually by claiming God’s promises as your own.
- Teach you how to declare scripture over yourself to strengthen your inner being.
- Show you how to conquer challenges by activating God’s Word in your life.
Find out more at MistyPhillip.com
Author, Misty Phillip, has lived through many difficult seasons of life where all she could do was look to God and His Word for hope. She found biblical solutions and scriptural promises that helped her overcome, and she can’t wait to share with you what she has learned.
Misty Phillip is passionate about helping women overcome challenges in life by seeking Jesus, studying the Word, and growing in grace. She is the author of ‘The Struggle is Real: But So is God,’ Bible Study, founder and host of the ‘By His Grace’ Podcast, a sought-after speaker and blogger at MistyPhillip.com a co-author of ‘Dear Wife’ and contributor to A Wife Like Me.
You can connect with Misty in any of the following places:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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Misty, thank you so much for sharing your heart and your son’s story here. What a beautiful testimony of the faithfulness of God.
Misty, thank you for sharing your family’s inspiring story with us. God was with you for all of those sleepless nights. He is with you still and your amazing son too. Your son’s happiness is a testament to His grace and your good parenting.
Misty, thank you for sharing your story and your heart here. How amazing that Connor is happy and lights up a room. He is a living example to us to find joy in each day. May God continue to use your story, and Connor, to remind others of His faithfulness. Blessings to you both!
I like that you said God chose you to be His parents…..what an honor that God knew that he could trust you with this challenge of your heart, He knew that you would grow through it as a mom and as His child. He knew that he would do great and mighty things through your family by giving you such a precious child and He chose you!! Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you for sharing your story. I often hear people say that God won’t give us more than we can handle. But actually, I think he DOES give us more than we can handle so that we lean on Him! It sounds like you’ve been doing that all along. I really don’t know how people go through life without the hope of God. I’m glad you have it and are sharing it with others!
My 18 year old special needs child is also the happiest person I know and has taught me many things as well. laurensparks.net
He did choose us, we definitely need to remember that. Have a very blessed Mother’s Day.
I love what you said, “God chose us to be his parents because HE knew Connor needed us, but more importantly, I think we needed him.” I sometimes wonder if I would even like myself had I not been given children with special needs. I have changed immensely through the struggle. Of course, I hate that they suffer and wish it could have been me. Thank you for sharing your story. I will be sharing your post.
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