A few of you read my recent diary about my sister, Laura's baby. To those of you who posted comments, Laura printed them out to share with Chad. It meant a lot to them. Thank you.
Luke is their 4 year old son. Liam Charles was Grandma Miriam's 18th grandchild.
Their story:
We are rejoicing in the life of our beloved son, Liam Charles Bowers. He was born on Saturday, 12 November 2005 at 0407 a.m. after a pretty long labor. He was 6 pounds, 5 ounces and 18 ½ inches long. Liam went to be with Jesus at 0940 hours. About 90 minutes prior to delivery, Laura's prayer partner, Carnellus, called to say that God had woken her in the middle of the night to pray for the baby's heart. So when the heartbeat would get irregular, the tremendous BACH staff would put an oxygen mask on Laura, reposition Laura to her side and the heartbeat would normalize (they find this gets the needed oxygen into the bloodstream)... we all rested in the fact that God had Carnellus interceding and covering Laura and the baby in prayer.
When the baby arrived, it was without the top of the cranium. They wrapped the babe in a blanket and laid the baby on Laura's belly. As you all know, according to the ultrasound, we thought we were expecting a girl. Everyone could hear Laura telling the baby how beautiful she was, how beloved and how long we had looked forward to her arrival. Laura and Miriam were taking turns holding and rocking the baby, calling her "beloved angel". The pediatrician and pediatric nurse said they had to do the measuring statistics, weight and quick physical exam. Chad went to the baby on the warming table. They unwrapped the blanket and Chad exclaimed, "It's a Boy!" John, the pediatric nurse, said, "yep, beloved angel is a boy!" There was the sound of much needed laughter in the room. Chad and Laura discarded the list of girl's names and quickly penned a listing of about 10 boy's names. They let Luke pick the name for the baby. Laura even read the names to the baby and the name that the baby responded to most favorably was the name that Luke selected. Thus Liam Charles Bowers went on the birth certificate.
Chaplain David Trogdon held a beautiful baptism service in the room and presented Liam to the Lord in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Laura moved to the rocking chair and rocked and sang to the baby. Liam died in Laura's arms.
A call came to the hospital from the TN Donor Services. Chad spent about 90 minutes on the phone patiently answering every question. Chad and Laura were thrilled to learn that Liam could donate his heart valves. When Chad and Laura first learned that the baby lacked a brain and top of the cranium, they asked if they could donate the baby's organs after it was born. It was explained that it was not possible in such cases. Chad and Laura rejoiced on Saturday when they learned they could donate a needed heart valve for another child. The operation disclosed that Liam had a strong and viable heart and though it could not legally be used, there were four perfect heart valves and all four heart valves could be used for four different children. We believe Carnellus' prayers were instrumental in the manifestation of the strong and viable heart and successful surgical harvesting of the heart valves. Laura had many prophetic words that the child would have a prophetic ministry and would be very smart. How wonderful are the plans and purposes of God. Liam will live on in some very wise, prophetic children. Rejoice and celebrate this miracle with us!
For He gives to His beloved even in his (Liam's) sleep.
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord;
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
- from Psalm 127: A Song of Ascents, of Solomon
Laura and Chad learned that Liam means "Determined Guardian". How perfect! The birth was pretty tough on Liam. Without the top of the cranium, Liam had no protection. He came out face first and the bruises and swelling showed how difficult it must have been for him. Liam fought hard to survive the birth; he was Determined to live... and will live on in Heaven as the Guardian angel for the children to whom he has given life! We believe Liam had a free will and this was his choice. We believe our son raised his hand and the pre-existence and said let me go down there and do this great work for others. We are at peace knowing that Liam lived God's purpose for his life.
Laura and Chad have coordinated with Chaplain David Trogdon for a BACH Memorial Service on Friday, 2 December 2005 to celebrate Liam's life.
Love, Laura, Chad, Luke and Miriam