Page 87 of Muskoka Miracle
Dan’s grip tightened. “Are you saying that you expect our baby to die?”
“The fetus,” Dr. McKinnon said, as if correcting them, “is not viable, nor compatible with a healthy life outcome. So yes.”
“No,” Sarah murmured. “No, I don’t believe it.”
“I know this is a shock, even though I’ve tried to prepare you for this. We’ve talked about chromosome incompatibility many times before.”
Oh, they certainly had.
“I can see you two need a minute.” The professor stood.
At least someone had eyes in their head.
“I’ll be back in a moment, and we can discuss when to schedule the appointment.”
“For the abortion?” Sarah whispered.
“For the termination, yes.”
Sarah could barely breathe. She turned to Dan who wore his own look of shock. “Dan.” Her voice, her heart, was broken.
Then she collapsed in his arms.
* * *
Never hadhe ever been so glad to see John and Ange. As soon as they entered the apartment John stood and opened his arms. They huddled together, hugging, crying. But this time Dan didn’t feel the need to hold back his tears like he had in the specialist’s office, trying to keep it together while his wife fell apart. He had no strength, barely any words, except for a stubborn sense that the doctors were wrong, and that their child who had lived this long could be born. Which meant they’d refused the termination, much to Dr. McKinnon’s obvious dismay.
“You’re setting yourself up for a very long and difficult journey, with likely heartbreak,” he’d warned.
Difficult was something they were used to. Heartbreak was nothing new.
John took his time hugging Dan, and it was like in that moment that the man’s strength imparted Dan with more strength, too. “God’s got you in the palm of His hand,” John murmured. “This hasn’t taken Him by surprise.”
Rest in Me.
Dan’s throat clamped.Help me trust You, Father.
“Dr. McKinnon always warned us, but we… we didn’t believe him,” Sarah murmured. “But we couldn’t agree to terminating.”
“It doesn’t matter what health challenges our baby has, we’re going to trust God through it all.” Dan glanced at Sarah’s red-rimmed eyes, knowing his words held a challenge similar to a song she’d once written. It was one thing to sing it when things were going well, another when their world had imploded.
Sarah nodded, reached for his hand, and in that moment, they were Team Walton again. Standing against the naysayers. Standing for what God could do.
“Our God can do anything,” Ange said, her voice thick with tears. “You wrote that Sarah, and it’s true. So stand firm on the truth of God.”
“I feel like we need to pray,” John said. “I know this feels devastating right now, but this is our God who can do the impossible, can make the lame walk, the dead come back to life. He is here with us now, here in the midst of this storm. We can trust Him.” John moved Dan’s hand to Sarah’s stomach. “God gives the barren woman children, like Hannah, like Sarah. This is who our God is. Strong, Almighty, which meansallmighty, and nothing is impossible for Him.”
“Amen,” Ange and Dan echoed.
John continued to pray, and some of the anguish faded, Dan’s emotions easing back from the sharp pointy edges of pain. As they each took turns in praying, a sense of peace stole into the room. Godwashere, His presence tangible.
By the time John finished, Dan was wilting, and Sarah was clearly exhausted.
“You two need to rest,” Ange said kindly. “John and I are staying with his parents here in the city. We can stay here if you like, but understand if you want time to yourself.”
They needed time to themselves. Dan glanced at Sarah. “I’m so tired, I can’t even think.”
Ange hugged her, glanced at Dan, must’ve caught his wish to be alone with Sarah as she then nodded. “You both need some sleep. There’s a casserole in the fridge.”
