Never underestimate the power of prayer. This is our story, of our Miracle.

My wife Sarah was pregnant with our third child.  Another baby boy.  Before this child was born, he was bringing us closer to the Lord. 

We decided last year that we wanted to have a third child.  Of course, we wanted a girl to make the teams a little more even, but as most say, we will be happy with whatever the Lord desires, as long as he/she is healthy.  Once we found out we were pregnant, friends talked us into having a gender reveal party.  We planned to have a small gathering in our house following the ultrasound scheduled for September 26.

September 26 became a big day for us.  We arrived at the doctor’s office and went to the Ultrasound room.  The doctor had a technician in training with him and she performed the entire ultrasound.  We made sure to tell them that we wanted the gender to be a surprise, so they agreed to share it on a picture in a sealed envelope.  The technician finished in 20 minutes or so and the doctor ask her for the machine and he proceeded to continue the ultrasound.  He took his time, another 30 minutes “checking things out”.  Sarah and I were discussing different things when the doctor was finishing up and he began talking to us.

The doctor explained that he saw a problem with the heart.  He suspected an A/V canal defect, a problem that can also be a sign of down syndrome.  We were in shock.  We didn’t really know what to worry about first, a heart problem or down syndrome.  He did say that the heart is still very small and he would schedule follow-up appointments to be sure.  He asked us to take a blood test that would give us the results of down syndrome in a couple days and he scheduled another ultrasound in a specialty clinic about 1 hour away to determine the severity of the heart defect.  As we are leaving I asked him to tell me again the name of the heart issue, so I could research, and he said look up A/V canal defect.  Before we left the facility, the doctor stopped to talked to us and said that we will know a lot more after the follow-up ultrasound.

Not knowing what to say or how to say anything between the tears, we left the hospital and drove straight to the church.  Whatever was going to happen, we knew was in God’s hands.  And my initial thinking was, he would either cure this child or give him and us the strength needed to make the most out of whatever situation we were given.  After an hour or so in the church, during which time we completed a rosary together, we headed back to our lives.  We have two little boys that are full of life and energy.  We do not have the option of “moping” around.

We reached out to everybody we know for prayer.  Sarah was already in a couple groups and continually getting closer to Mary and God through Mary.  She was praying a rosary daily.  We began praying the rosary together.  Life went on.  We had the gender reveal party a week later and found out a little boy was on the way.  I was somewhat relieved, knowing that this little guy needs to be strong because he may have a tough road ahead. 

I can’t remember how many days passed between that appointment and the phone call Sarah received.  The blood test results show “No Down Syndrome”.  Wow, this was a huge relief.  We can now focus our research and attention to the “heart problem”.  I read so many different reports, statistics, testimonies about A/V canal defects.  There are different severities, but it seemed that all require open heart surgery within the first year of life.  I couldn’t get the image out of my head of our little baby boy in the operating room.  I remember many years ago when my uncle had open heart surgery and had the large staples in his chest.  He was a man.  This is a baby, my baby boy.  Lord, make this boy strong and help us because we also need your strength.

Our prayer life together and separately continued to grow stronger.  Our nighttime prayer with the boys became more meaningful.  The week and weekend leading up to our trip to the specialty hospital in Temple was our strongest.  We both knew that whatever is coming, we need to the strength of the Lord to get through it.

The follow-up ultrasound in Temple was scheduled for October 23.  The week before this follow up ultrasound, we had a “routine” visit with our doctor.  He explained to us that he talked to the doctor that performed the ultrasound and that more than likely our future appointments would be in Temple because they have more specialized equipment and doctors to handle these types of situations.  He said that once we know more, we will find out if the baby can be born in Temple or if we will need to go to Houston, Dallas or another hospital that specializes in heart conditions.  Sarah asked him if he can come to Temple when the baby will be born, and he said no, a more specialized doctor will attend us and that we are in good hands.  Both Sarah and I were fighting back tears or just letting them flow by now, I don’t remember, when the doctor looked at us and said that we needed to have hope.  This baby is in the hands of the Lord and what the Lord wants is what will be.  Worrying doesn’t help, hope does.  And then something unexpected happened.  He asked if we pray, and we said yes and at that moment he led us in prayer.  We held hands and he said a tremendous prayer.  He asked the Holy Spirit to touch this child.  It was a couple minute prayer and it was amazing, uplifting and just, surprising.  It was true blessing and an amazing experience.

Monday, October 23^rd, we drove to Temple, about 1 hour from our house.  We prayed together the entire drive.  We entered an unfamiliar hospital, understanding that our future appointments and checkups would probably be here.  When we finally got to the room, the Ultrasound technician was there with another technician in training.  They began checking things and the technology was significantly better than our previous ultrasound.  We could see the little guy on a large TV.  He looked perfect to us.  Sarah asked about the heart a couple times, but the technician always answered that the doctor will be in to talk to us about the results.  The technicians left the room and after a couple minutes returned.  She said that the doctor requested for a complete report of the baby instead of just the heart.  The technician continues to measure arm bones, leg bones, etc.  Again, the baby looked perfect to us.

The doctor came into the room minutes after the technicians left.  He set down and asked us “Do you know why you are here?”  Sarah and I looked at each other and then said yes, we understand there is a problem with our baby’s heart and we are here to find out more about it.  He looked at us and said that he found no problems and that everything looks fine.  Again, shock, What?  Why are we here?  What?  Are you sure?  Did you miss something?  Why did the technician come back to look more?  He said, since there were no problems, he decided to get a complete anatomy report.  What?  Do we need to come back?  Could this issue reoccur?  He said, no, all follow up appointments will be with your normal doctor in your hospital (10 minutes from our house).  Sarah proceeded to hug the doctor and both technicians, I don’t think she hugged anymore of the medical staff, but she might have.

On February 15, 2018, we welcomed a very healthy Jose Daniel Laird into the world and he is perfect. 

Never, Ever underestimate the Power of Prayer.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

I present to you, Jose Daniel: