Friday, March 4, 2011

Infant Inspiration


A few weeks ago some close friends of our from our Grove City Christian School years had a baby, little Owen. Sadly, Owen was born with severe complications, the most challenging of which was that he was not breathing on his own. After a week of receiving the doctor's best care and even having surgery on his throat, it was apparent that Owen could not breathe, and his parents would have to say goodbye to him. 

This is obviously a tragedy, and one that many people have had to face before. It is incredibly sad to watch an infant struggle for life and not survive. But Owen's story, also like the story of many others, did not end after just one week. When the doctor's removed the breathing tube and Owen's parents prepared to watch him slip away, everyone was shocked to watch Owen begin to breathe on his own. Since that day two weeks ago, Owen has continued to grow stronger and more healthy, and it appears now that he will grow up to be a relatively "typical" little baby. 

I just finished reading through some of the blog updates that Owen's parents have posted, and I am astounded at the simple miracle of life. It is amazing enough to think about a baby developing and coming to life inside a mother's womb, but to look at Owen - attached to machines with tubes coming in and out - and realize that he in his infantile state is fighting for life....it's simply amazing. 

Owen inspires me. He has reminded me that many times, things are not as they seem. Life on earth is not as predictable as the doctors and scientists may tell us. And there is more fight in a human being, even a little infant, to overcome some of the darkest nights and more difficult challenges we have all faced. 

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