The Brave Boy Born To Help Others

The Brave Boy Born To Help Others

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

Karen was twenty weeks pregnant when we found out that our unborn son, David, would be born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. The face ultrasound was new—only having been used for a few months at the time—otherwise we wouldn’t have known that early.

We didn’t have a lot of information, so our minds were filled with questions. What caused this? What else might be wrong with him? When can we fix it? Who will fix it? Where will the surgery have to be done? We prayed each day that God would direct our paths and bring the puzzle pieces together in due time.

When David was born, we were blessed with a screaming, bouncing baby boy who was healthy except for the cleft lip and palate.

Karen had done part of her master’s work in nutrition on special feeding problems in newborns, so she was prepared. I had done extra rotations in plastic surgery as a family practice resident, so I knew who to call. God had prepared us years before by answering many of our questions before we even asked.

The corrective treatments required patience. The plastic surgeon told us to be prepared for eighteen years’ worth of treatments and surgery for David. His cleft lip and palate had a tremendous impact on him but not in the way we were expecting.

Last year, David graduated from Samford University with a degree in nursing. He’s hoping to go back for more study so he can become a nurse anesthetist. He told us, “After thirty-five surgical procedures, the person who always gave me the most hope and comfort was the anesthetist who put me to sleep and woke me up. I want to be that person for other people, to help them be brave and courageous when they are facing those same fears.”

TODAY’S RX

Bravery develops with time and experience of God’s faithfulness.

Help me to see the bigger picture behind my illness, God. Use this often-painful experience to shape my life going forward, so I may see the good that will come from it and glorify you.