I can still remember how cold it was that January night as I sat next to my wife as she lay in the hospital bed. I held her had as we listened to the wind howl and moan outside the window. We prayed as we waited for the doctor to come and give us the news we were afraid to hear.



My wife Jenny who had been 25 weeks pregnant had just given birth by cesarean section to our long sought after son, the child we had hoped to complete our family. Our daughter Kayleigh was now four years old and was excited about having a brother.

We knew that Kevin was dangerously premature at 13 inches and one pound and ten ounces but the doctor's words hit us like we had been punched in the stomach.

"I don't think he stands much of a chance of making it through the night!" He said as gently as he could. "If by some slim chance he does make it you may be looking at a very cruel future for him.

Numb with disbelief, we listened as the doctor described the overwhelming problems Kevin would likely face if he could survive. He said, "He may never walk or talk, he may even be blind and he will certainly be disposed to tragic conditions from cerebral palsy to mental retardation." It seemed like he went on and on taking away all the hope we had and completely shattering all our dreams and plans.

Jenny cried and through her tears just kept repeating, "No! No! No!"



Each agonizing day came and went as Kevin struggled to survive and then the doctor released Jenny and we had to go home without him. Jenny spent her days looking through the glass enclosure into the pediatric intensive care unit of the hospital because due to Kevin's underdeveloped nervous system he could not be touched because of the distress it would cause him.

A good deal of our night we spent praying that God would stay close to our little angel and work everything out for His glory.



I can't ever remember a specific instance when Kevin suddenly got stronger but over the weeks he did gain weight and grew stronger as he fought for his life. He was almost three months old the first time we were allowed to hold him in our arms. At five months old we were allowed to take him home although the doctors continued to warn us that he might not be able to lead a normal life if he was fortunate to live a year. But Jenny and I knew the power of prayer and the love God has for His children and we never gave up hope.

Five years later Kevin is a energetic fire ball with light green eyes and a zest for life that fills our hearts with joy. None of the terrible things the doctors warned us about has come to pass. He is as bright and happy a child as any parent could want.



Yesterday afternoon we took Kevin and Kayleigh to the park so they could play with the other children. As usual Kevin was chattering nonstop with everyone who would listen to him when he suddenly fell silent and placed his arms across his chest like he was hugging himself. He looked up at his mother and said, "Do you smell that?"

Smelling the air and looking up to see a few clouds approaching Jenny said, "I think we may get some rain this afternoon."

Kevin closed his eyes and asked again, "Do you smell that?"

Once again Jenny replied, "Yes it smells like rain."

Still caught in the moment Kevin shook his head, patted his little shoulders with his small hands and loudly exclaimed, "No it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."



As the tears ran down our cheeks we knew Kevin had just confirmed what we both had known all along in our hearts. God had heard our prayers and during all those long nights and days when his body was too sensitive to touch God had been holding him and it was His loving scent that he remembers so well.

Never let yourself think that God doesn't hear and answer prayers for He is a God of love who has promised to never leave or forsake us. After all He gave us His only begotten to die on that cross so we could return to Him and He could love us for eternity.



This is another one of those stories that came to me signed by that renowned German writer "Author Unknown." I have rewritten it to express my own style but have tried to stay true to the original author's intent.

Bob Goulding © October 2007

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