Recent Events
This is a recent letter written by us regarding the loss of our first child. I hope that this letter gives comfort to those of you who are experiencing something similar and hope to those of you who need it. This is just a glimpse of the power God has in our lives and the strength He gives to those who pray.
Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you know, Dominic and I have spent the last couple months in the process of grief. At the end of November we found out that our first child had Anencephaly, a fatal neural tube defect. At the time we found out, the pain was insurmountable, and although we knew we would get through it, we did not know how. What we did know was that God had control of this little life, that He chose him to be our son, and that He was perfectly made (Psalm 100,139).
As the days and weeks went on, we fluctuated through the grief process. We had many times of questioning and fear, but also many of peace and acceptance. We often wondered how God expected us to be able to go through this, and of course, why. Just when we thought the physical pain and discomfort could not go any farther, God delivered Dominic Daniel Brown Junior on February 5, 2007, two months shy of his due date. Suddenly all of our questions were answered and all of our fears relieved. We knew that this was God’s perfect timing. At this time more than ever, we realized how God continually gave us exactly what we needed at exactly the right time. When we were feeling sad, it was a phone call, card, or email that brought us comfort. When we had questions, God provided people who knew the answers. When we felt like talking about our son, God provided the ears to listen. When we felt like doing normal activities, God provided people to do them with us. All along God had been growing our relationship with each other and the body of Christ to have the gift of this child, and he was exactly that, a gift.
The moment he was born the nurse gave him to me right away. I was overcome with intense sorrow as you might expect. Then something unexplainable happened. After a couple minutes of weeping, I opened my eyes and saw how wonderful this child was. I saw his beautiful hands, his blue eyes, and his little tongue. I had never seen anything so precious in all my life. The rest of the day we did not feel sadness, but joy. It is unbelievable that we were able to find happiness on a day like this. What we know is that in that moment, the peace of God had come over us and changed us. Later we were given this email of a prayer that was being prayed for us:
“Please pray for God’s Sovereign will and His timing for the baby’s birth…for God’s strength and supernatural peace. Please pray that the delivery of the baby will be as quick and as painless as possible. Please pray for all of the family and healing as they grieve what they have been told will be the loss of this little guy.”
It is surreal for us to read this prayer because it is exactly what we experienced. Our hope is that everyone will be able to experience this peace that God gives. Our hope is that the news of our child has the power to change. Our hope is that his life has been a testimony of God’s love and faithfulness and that God’s works have been displayed in him (John 1:9).
When I look back at my journal from the day we got home from the hospital, I called that day beautiful. We do not think of our experience as the result of our fallen world, a mistake, or even a regret. This child’s life was ordained by God and when we saw how much Dominic Junior looked like his earthly father, we were reminded of how we are made in the image of our heavenly father. Nothing God creates is bad or a mistake. Our son was and is perfect, and God’s plan for his life was fulfilled.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your support as we mourn our loss and praise God for the gift of this experience.
Love,
Dominic and Kimberly
Dear Family and Friends,
As many of you know, Dominic and I have spent the last couple months in the process of grief. At the end of November we found out that our first child had Anencephaly, a fatal neural tube defect. At the time we found out, the pain was insurmountable, and although we knew we would get through it, we did not know how. What we did know was that God had control of this little life, that He chose him to be our son, and that He was perfectly made (Psalm 100,139).
As the days and weeks went on, we fluctuated through the grief process. We had many times of questioning and fear, but also many of peace and acceptance. We often wondered how God expected us to be able to go through this, and of course, why. Just when we thought the physical pain and discomfort could not go any farther, God delivered Dominic Daniel Brown Junior on February 5, 2007, two months shy of his due date. Suddenly all of our questions were answered and all of our fears relieved. We knew that this was God’s perfect timing. At this time more than ever, we realized how God continually gave us exactly what we needed at exactly the right time. When we were feeling sad, it was a phone call, card, or email that brought us comfort. When we had questions, God provided people who knew the answers. When we felt like talking about our son, God provided the ears to listen. When we felt like doing normal activities, God provided people to do them with us. All along God had been growing our relationship with each other and the body of Christ to have the gift of this child, and he was exactly that, a gift.
The moment he was born the nurse gave him to me right away. I was overcome with intense sorrow as you might expect. Then something unexplainable happened. After a couple minutes of weeping, I opened my eyes and saw how wonderful this child was. I saw his beautiful hands, his blue eyes, and his little tongue. I had never seen anything so precious in all my life. The rest of the day we did not feel sadness, but joy. It is unbelievable that we were able to find happiness on a day like this. What we know is that in that moment, the peace of God had come over us and changed us. Later we were given this email of a prayer that was being prayed for us:
“Please pray for God’s Sovereign will and His timing for the baby’s birth…for God’s strength and supernatural peace. Please pray that the delivery of the baby will be as quick and as painless as possible. Please pray for all of the family and healing as they grieve what they have been told will be the loss of this little guy.”
It is surreal for us to read this prayer because it is exactly what we experienced. Our hope is that everyone will be able to experience this peace that God gives. Our hope is that the news of our child has the power to change. Our hope is that his life has been a testimony of God’s love and faithfulness and that God’s works have been displayed in him (John 1:9).
When I look back at my journal from the day we got home from the hospital, I called that day beautiful. We do not think of our experience as the result of our fallen world, a mistake, or even a regret. This child’s life was ordained by God and when we saw how much Dominic Junior looked like his earthly father, we were reminded of how we are made in the image of our heavenly father. Nothing God creates is bad or a mistake. Our son was and is perfect, and God’s plan for his life was fulfilled.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your support as we mourn our loss and praise God for the gift of this experience.
Love,
Dominic and Kimberly
posted by Dominic and Kimberly at
8:01 PM
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