The Gifts God Sends Us
My story really gets going 2 1/2 years ago; I was suffering ppd after our
3rd child, our 1st girl. I cried out to the Lord for help and He answered
me. A little over a year later, we were pregnant again! (after fertility
issues, SURPRISE!). Halfway through the pregnancy, we found out our coming
son, Seth, had a half a heart (hypoplastic left heart syndrome). He had his
first open heart surgery at 5 days old. Came home after 7 weeks at the
hospital. We had a blessed summer loving our little boy. Seth had his 2nd
heart surgery on 9/11 and on Oct. 12, Seth went home to Heaven.
During the time he was here, he was prayed for by our whole church
family. Our older kids loved him and are hurting for him, as are we. With
his half a heart, Seth taught a large amount of people to love
unconditionally. God used that sweet baby to teach us a complete new level
of trusting Him. We’re still figuring out all the gifts God sent us in
Seth but we know this; Our God is an awesome God, He loves us, He loves our
son. We will see Seth again because Jesus paid the price for our sins and
paved a way to Heaven for all of us. I would love to see some kind of cross
that would draw awareness to congenital heart defects. CHDs are the #1
birth defects in the US affecting 1 out of every 100-115 babies born; CHDs
are the #1 cause of death by a birth defect in the US and CHD research is a
mere pennies on the dollar of pediatric oncology. 20 years ago, our Seth
would have not likely even survived the 6 months we were blessed to have
him. I pray that in another 20 years, families won’t have to experience
the loss we have.
-Kathryn Bonnett