My Miracles

About 30 years ago from now should have been my mom’s due date with my brother. Instead he was born on August 31st, about 2 months early. Several months into my mom’s pregnancy, something really weird started happening. My mom’s legs started bruising and turning black. Sometime in the 6th month, my mom was admitted into the hospital because the doctors did not have a clue as to what was happening. My mom was losing the feeling in her legs and was bed ridden in the hospital. Her legs by this time were completely black. My mom was really sick. I believe to the point of losing consciousness. The doctors finally decided they needed to talk to my dad. They gave him an ultimatum…save my mom or save the baby. They told him to sleep on it and to let him know the next day. Well, I think God had other plans. That night…my mom delivered the baby. To this day she doesn’t remember anything about it. Apparently my brother just came out…completely unexpected. I think my mom’s body was so sick that it just delivered my brother so that my mom could recover. My brother was only like 3 or 4 pounds. Back then this was pretty serious as they didn’t have the neo-natal specialists they have now. My brother had to be in an incubator for a couple of weeks, and had jaundice, but other than that he was fine. My mom stayed in the hospital for a couple of months. Slowly her body healed from whatever it was that invaded her body. The doctors had never seen anything like it, and still have no clue what exactly happened. My brother was a miracle. My dad was so relieved that he didn’t have to make a choice between my mom and my brother. After my mom recovered, the doctors recommended that my mom not get pregnant again. And they weren’t planning it at all. Well, 2 years later my mom got pregnant with me. Unexpected. All the specialists that saw my mom highly recommend she get an abortion immediately. My mom went to meet with her OB/GYN and asked his opinion. He said having an abortion would be the safest bet…but told her… “if anyone can do it Mrs. Keatts, you can.” My parents, who are both Pro-Life, immediately decided to go forward and not look back. My mom ended up having a very normal pregnancy with no complications. The doctors did deem that what happened with my mom when she was pregnant with my brother was unrelated to being pregnant. Good news for me! When my mom reminds me of this story…I realize how precious my life is. I could have been aborted! It's still mind numbing when I really think about it. I realize how precious my brother’s life is. He survived against the odds. And I realize how precious my mom’s life is. Despite the weird illness/virus she delivered a healthy baby, and made a full recovery. In the bigger picture…it makes me realize how each one of us is a miracle…how we should live each day to the fullest…and how precious life is. I say this mainly to myself. I have been quite down on life lately. Then I remember how I might not have had the chance of life. My mom gave me a gift that I will always be grateful for. I need to appreciate each moment…each breath…each blessing that is in my life. May this not only be a reminder to me…but also a reminder to you. Don’t get bogged down by all the problems and things going wrong in your life. Focus on all of the blessings…and be grateful for all that God has given you!