 |
| Sebastian's mother Alicia comforting him after his second surgery. |
These events took place late at night on September 13th,
2013.
Prayer was a constant companion of little Sebastian and
still shadows over him. Friends and family across the globe in a chain of
prayer combined the best in surgeon skill with Gods mighty strength.
We were privileged to have my Mother Hazel here in Nicaragua
while Sebastian was born. She had come down to be with us for three weeks for
what we thought would be a “normal birth”. It was anything but that. However my
mother has a special calmness about her which no doubt comes from the fact she
has had 10 children of her own, in addition to being a devout believer in our
Lord and savior.
 |
| Photo I took in one of the hospital's chapels. |
She was my only blood related family member that was in
Nicaragua during Sebastian’s first two surgeries, however I must say Ernesto
and Dona Alicia although are not blood relatives are as close to being my
father as any. She brought a peaceful trust
in God demeanor throughout the entire ordeal.
In one instant after we learned Sebastian would have to go into his
second emergency open heart operation in the same day. she noticed even the
veteran surgeon was nervous. I mean, originally in his first surgery there was
only a 15% mortality rate, but now with him not even recovered from the first open
heart surgery, having a second surgery would certain make his chances
exceedingly more slim. All we could do was pray, but we were also fortunate
that all the doctors on the team were such strong believers in Gods power. My
mother asked the Surgeon if she could pray for his hands before he went into
the operating room. With a pleading face he complied, and they prayed together
in the dim lit hallway adjacent to the operating room at 11:45pm. God was no
doubt the chief of the operating team. He blessed our little warrior with the
strength he needed, when it seams little Sebastian would have only a pint-sized
portion left.
 |
| My beloved son |
We slowly retired back to our base camp (the room), which
was packed full of loving family members
who wanted to pray for our little Sebastian during these wretched hours.
You hear this phrase many times used casually, “felt like my
heart has been ripped out”, however I believe Alicia and I experienced just
that. If we let our minds wonder into the dark road of negativity about the
future of our beloved son, it would become too much to bear. Even with our
minds on the Lord, there was a paralyzing sadness and pain that seamed to
resonate through us, as if our very bones were gelatinized. We found comfort during
these excruciating hours in God and the warm embrace of friends and
families.
 |
| Sebastians Grandmother finally holding him after he came home to recover |
The road to the following day dragged onward in a haze.
However the next morning when our little warriors heart beat on, joy was like a
mist in the air; cooling the nostrils of our soul in a soothing euphoria. God was with our son the entire time.
This is one of the poems I wrote for him while he was in
surgery.
My heart is weary
My love is strong
Tears stream.....
My son be strong
You are so small,
weak and meek,
But your fathers strength I bestow
Your mothers love lightens your hard tow
With you we are now
Forever to be
Loving you now,
our tiny member of the
family.
Beat on through this challenging hour
Beat on through this breaking life
Beat on though your heart be weary
Breath strong and step into your life
