I believe that Levi was knit together in Amy’s womb. I believe that Levi is fearfully and wonderfully made. I believe that God has a desire for Levi and a purpose for Levi. I believe that at this moment in time, Levi is precisely whom he is supposed to be with the limitations that are present. I believe this because I know that God loves Levi more than I do. I know that he has plans for Levi that are better than anything I can imagine.
It wasn’t long into the pregnancy that doctors began searching for answers. We had been through the process before, after all, this human being was the fourth child to enter into our family. We knew the routine, and the doctors knew our names. I am thankful for thorough and cautious doctors – the medical professionals that sit alongside patients with a bedside manner that voices concern, but also with a presence that calms anxiety.
We knew months in advance that there were malformations in Levi’s brain. These abnormalities accompanied the absence of a critical set of nerves that join the two sides of the brain. With the advanced medical technology, there were so many things the professionals could tell us, but there were also many questions for which they could not give answers. I remember speaking with one of the neurologists, asking him questions, and listening to his response. Levi could be on a spectrum that ranged from bedbound, in a vegetative state, to acting in ways the world deems normal. It was a polite way of telling us they were clueless as to any prognosis.
It was during this time that we, along with many brothers and sisters in Christ, began to pray. When I look back on the day he was born, 5,281 people were watching the blog to see how things were progressing. This number does not count the numerous churches that were supporting us through prayer in a time that we had to lay everything in the hands of God completely and trust him. A conservative estimate was about 10,000 people praying for our family and Levi.
What Were They Praying?
I would like to be super religious and pious, believing that I along with the others were praying for God’s Will. However, as a father, I was asking God to heal my son. I remember when they whisked him off immediately after delivery with no explanations or reason. We didn’t even get to look at him. The prayers increase. I was not praying for God’s will; I was pleading with my heavenly Father that he would save Levi.