|
Interrupted SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) |
  Finally
she arrived after 19 years of praying for a little girl. My songs
multiplied as daily I rejoiced over this gift to me. I had made little
rose buds out of ribbons and sewed up a little satin dress and shoes and
hand made her little hat too. The rose buds were attached to her dress and
her curtains. No one can know the joy I felt after waiting
19 years for her. The trouble while she was growing inside me melted into
nothing as I looked at her dear little face. It did not matter that I had
to lie quietly in bed for months to save our lives. Now she was born
and what a joy. Her little fingers were so cute. Everything about her was
pretty to me. She was a normal little girl but in mamas eyes she was
the prettiest little girl in the whole wide world. |
  I
had made her little room in our Portland home as pretty as I could as I
looked forward to holding her in my arms and rocking my little girl. This
little miracle was such a treasure to me. |
 After
what seemed like forever, my doctor stated I could be up doing just a few
things. I could do a few days at the office and see my patients. I made
preparation for her also to be in my office after her birth. I was a
family doctor with my own practice. I was doctoring in Gresham. My hours were cut
back to three days a week. I had 4 days a week to rest and dream of her
arrival. My dear husband paid someone to care for the 3 boys during the
day so I could rest and be careful. |
  I
had a very good doctor, her name is Nadine Graven. She really was helpful. I
had never had an easy labor. It was her week end off but she stayed by
throughout the whole thing. She is my hero. How precious and skillful this
MD! The cord was tightly wrapped around Jenny's neck and left a mark for a
few days. She also had type A blood which conflicted with mom's type O.
Poor Jenny turned yellow and we had to treat her for awhile. We prayed
that she would not need a blood transfusion. God helped her through this
time. We had her under bilirubin lights in her crib at home. As a
nurse I liked working NICU. I was not afraid of this little problem. Having spent
many nursing days in intensive care neonatal ICU, I kept a very close eye
on my baby girl. |
 A
very precious friend of mine, from the days I had been in nursing
training helped me out during delivery. Linae worked at the Portland
Adventist Hospital and agreed to come in and special nurse me during the
delivery. She was such a comfort. What a precious friend! Her kindness
will never be forgotten. She even brought a delicious dish of stuffed
peppers. I had no health insurance due to the disaster Dr. Kai had caused
when he threatened me with a gun. (another story) Financially we were in
trouble. Everything I created for my little girl was made by my hands. It
looked expensive because it was made by a mama very excited over the gift
God had created. This is how I celebrate God's blessings!
I left the hospital 4 hours after she had been born. |
| In the hospital, I
had bathed my little girl, checked for all toes and fingers and dressed
her in the new outfit I had made and took her picture. Here she is 3 hours
old. I was tired but singing praises to God for her life. I was too
excited over this treasure I had waited 19 years for, I couldn't sleep! I
did not want to miss anything. She was my fifth child. I had four sons,
three living. Yet each child is
such a dear treasured gift from God. |
 The
ladies of the church, Della Keele and friends made a special celebration
party for us. Erma Lee came over with so many happy surprises for the
children. She was such a blessing to us. There were so many others who
made it their project to encourage us during our crisis and new blessing. |
  Little
Jenny went to the office every day. I nursed her between patients. Many of
my patients were so excited about the baby. They made up excuses to come
in for an appointment. They were healthy. It was just routine checks. Then
they came in to hold baby Jenny. You should have seen their delighted smiles as
they praised God with me over this life that was spared after the loss of
my last little boy. Jenny had many acting as grandmas and grandpas aunties
and uncles pouring love on her. |
  She
had over 50 outfits. I stayed up a few nights getting her picture in each
outfit before she grew out of that little size. Each outfit was a
statement of love from my friends and patients. Every now and then she
would open her eyes and grin at me. She loved all the attention. |
  She
was a normal little girl, but she was our long prayed for little girl and
was gorgeous to her daddy and me. |
  Her
three brothers were cared for by a sitter during the day while mom
regained her strength and worked 3 days a week at the office. They loved
to do any thing for baby sister.
The oldest began teaching her to pray at a very young age. He got her to kneel and tried to help her shut her eyes and fold her hands. She was a wiggly handful for him. |
  My
dad was thrilled because he won her first smile. I was recording their
interaction on film when it happened. It was fun to have grandpa get this
joy.
Her own daddy was just so proud of his only daughter. |
 Many
happy hours were spent in her little room I had fixed up, rocking her,
singing to her and reading to her while she was so tiny. I even made
a video of my reading and singing with pictures so if she happened to wake
up while I was cooking, she could still see and hear me. If she awakened
after I gently laid her in the crib, I would start the video and she would
go to sleep with me singing to her from the video. After having felt the
horrible pangs of the loss of our 4th son, our hearts were celebrating
this life as all the more precious. She brought us healing, yet no one can
replace baby Jerry. |
 One
day when she was about 3 months, while she was sweetly sleeping
after nursing, I left her safely tucked in her crib among her dollies and
teddy bears. I made sure she was on her side in case she burped up
anything. I decided to tackle a job that had been waiting me in
the garage below her room. Many months had passed since we moved in.
Having had emergency surgery, almost lost my life then been on bed rest
with the pregnancy, I just never got to that job in the garage!
Guess what, it did not go anywhere. It just waited for me.
While I was sorting through boxes of unpacked belongings from our recent
move, I was impressed to go to the
baby room. I kept going through the box and the impression came stronger.
It was so strong, I dropped everything and ran up stairs to baby Jenny's
room.
I found her with blue coloration. She was not breathing. My doctor mind was racing. This new baby girl I had longed for for 19 years just could not die of crib death. I flew into action with every bit of my doctor training. I gently shook her and called out to her. "Jenny," I said loudly, "Jenny wake up. You can't leave me." She was blue. Milliseconds seemed like hours in the agony of my heart. She looked dead but her little body was still warm. She was not breathing. My fingers were over her heart but could not detect anything. I could not find a pulse. I vigorously shook her one more time and prepared to do CPR. I sent up a speedy half second prayer to God. "Help me, save my baby!" To my great joy, there was a flutter of her eyelids. She took a big long gasp of air and her color came back. Jesus had saved my little girl. I had been sent to interrupt a crib death. I took her in to the pediatrician and it was recommended she be monitored very closely. I knew some little ones for no known reason die in their sleep. I had done research on this strange phenomenon in my nurses training before I went to med school. Their hearts slow down in sleep and then they stop breathing. They are perfectly healthy and no one knows why this happens. She had not vomited or been sick at all. I held my little Jenny for hours not wanting to do anything else. I would rather not fix food or do anything. I wanted my longed for little girl to live and not die while I was out of the room. |
 For
months after this, I could not rest in my own bed at night. What if she
would die while I slept? There are expensive monitors available for
alarming when little ones stop breathing yet even these do not always
work. We attached a heart monitor to her to make sure if her heart slowed,
we would hear the alarm. I rested under her crib with my hand on her
chest. I had to know my darling was ok. My lack of sleep was too much and
my husband began to worry. He set up our video camera on a tripod and put a
monitor in the master bedroom. I watched and listened and yet rested a
little better. My dear friend pediatrician loaned me a little heart
monitor to keep track of her heart rate. It alarmed many times when she
slowed down at night. At 5 months of age it went down to 40 beats in
the night. I woke her up and held her. The rate increased back to normal.
Finally after several months she grew out of these episodes and we all
rested better. |
  She
has grown up with a zest and love for life. She loves to pick
flowers and play dollies. I get many sweet love notes from her and lots of
bouquets. Since it is fun for daddy and brothers to get
her dollies, she has quite a collection. They all get hugs, kisses and
many outfit changes. Naturally, we had never seen this mothering instinct
played out in our boys, it was really fun to watch. |
 When
she was just one year old, God asked me in a dream to share the
Bible lessons I made for my own children with the children of the world.
This story is told in "Feed My Lambs". I was shocked God gave me
this dream three nights in a row. I dared not disobey like Jonah. This first journey
to Russia involved finding sitters for all 4 little children and
traveling to Siberia.
I cried when I thought of leaving my little girl for
3 weeks. How could I after what we had been through? How could God ask me
to do this? She was a treasure given to me. We had never been separated.
Just one little tear on my face and she is right there to wipe it
away. How could I be without her sweet little pats on the face and
kisses and hugs. She always would cover me with a blanket if I napped on
the sofa. She went with me to work and shopping and occasionally on hospital rounds.
I was tested like Abraham. Did I love God more than anyone or thing? Did I
love God more than my daughter? I was told that my daughter would not
remember me when I got back. At this comment from a pastor's wife, I
almost turned back from the job. Then I read how another dear lady
was sent by God having to leave her children in the arms of others and how
she cried for them. It gave me courage to read her testimony. |
 You cannot imagine the number of
tears I cried! Satan saw, and he tried
through the mean statements of other mothers to discourage me. Every
series we've done Satan has had at least one tongue he's used to curse my
mothering abilities. Satan is a master
at picking the target in our hearts. I won't mention any
names but one has bragged to my husband that she has called everyone she
can think of from Maine to California to tell them how awful I am. I think
she included the TV ministry at 3ABN for we were strangely treated while
there getting ready for God's new project for us. Horrific threats were
made that she knew someone planning to report to the child protective
agency. God is in control and
no one can pass HIS BANNER OVER ME without His
permission.
|
 God's
army of angels are in place long before anyone comes near. My little son
Kyle was given a dream that I was offering Bible lessons to the world.
Details of the dream are told under story called "Feed
My Lambs". Millions came running to get their lessons. Kyle
saw the figure of Rev. 12 as I depicted it in the children's Revelation
studies on the web site (www.larom.org). He saw the number of stars about
my head increase to 45. I think that means God is giving me a extra angel
guards for the going is not easy! (see my study notes on Revelation 12 and
13)
The opposing one thinks the service in other countries is neglecting my own. Yet it is their training program custom made by God. God knows what He is doing. Their scores on school exams show they are developing normally. Though many believe her discreditation claims, God has called me. "We ought to obey God rather than man". It is God's responsibility who believes her stories. I leave my reputation in his arms and do my best. I have learned to rejoice and be exceeding glad that God has wanted me to work for Him, adding child evangelism to my doctoring. I dream of getting the programs recorded for televising. Some small TV stations are already asking for these recordings. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.--5T 136 (1882). {LDE 180.4} |
 Bravely, I set my heart to share the Bible lessons wherever
God would send me. I determined to deny myself and take up my cross for
Jesus. He wanted others to have the hope we had. He wanted and asked ME TO
GO SHARE. I
prayed so much about who would love my children, and who would read Bible stories to
them while I was gone. What if I never survived the trip? What then would
happen to my precious children? My sister took two boys, my brother took
the oldest boy, and my secretary wanted the baby. I sobbed as I left my
dear ones. I committed them to Jesus yet the separation was painful. When I came back, my
little girl came running with arms outstretched saying, "Mama, Mama,
Mama". Her blond silky hair was fixed so cute and she was so plump.
Her giggles at seeing me, were the delight of my heart.
|
  She
picked me some daffodils. I dressed her up in this matching Russian outfit
from Perm, Siberia. While away, each night I wept for my baby. My arms
ached to hold her and my husband and boys. My heart was always set on my
family. It hurt deeply when some
during the trip accused me of trying for attention of other men. All
I wanted was to share the Bible stories God sent me to do, doing my best,
and then
hurry and get home
to my family and my medical practice. I love my Jesus and
hope to influence many to love HIM too. The mothers in Russia, seemed to
understand. They thanked me over and over for taking time to bring them
hope. |
 The
first week I was back, we
went to the beach as a family and spent a week end celebrating the fact
mama made it back safely. I pray that our efforts to share will result in
many gathering at our home in heaven and enjoying a strawberry feast with
us at our picnic. Jenny and I will serve the berries. All are invited. My
little baby Jerry will be resurrected and grow up in heaven. He will get
many hugs from his big sister that was born after him. |
  Jenny
is now old enough to go on mission trips. She has been on 3 trips.
She wants to be a nurse. She is so helpful in the little clinics we do on
missions. She helps lead the song service each evening as we teach Bible
stories to children. All four children have learned all 44 scripture songs
in Spanish. Some day she will be telling the stories herself. She
is always trying to make others feel better. I believe God saved her
life in answer to my prayer. I believe He urged me to go to her bedroom
that day when she had died and God brought her back to me. Jenny brings us
so much joy. |
 She is praying that God will help her learn to play the flute
so she can also play that for the Bible meetings. We are ready when God
calls us for our next assignment. Our India trip is on hold due to the
war. But our bags are packed. |