Martha’s Story
by Tina Roquemore
Something is terribly wrong.
“I’ll be right back,” she says.
“Right back” turned into a very fast walk with her boss in tow.
Laughingly I ask, “Well, do we have a big baby here?”
“We’ll be right back.”
This is not fun, guys. You’re beginning to worry me. Yep. You guessed it; in they come with their boss. As they looked at the ultrasound, their brows were so furrowed, you could have planted corn.
“You’ll need to speak with your doctor. Can you see him this afternoon?”
“Sure” I say. “Is there anything you can tell me?”
“No. Your doctor will tell you.”
“I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord…”
Ok Lord. What’s wrong with my baby?
“…no voice like Thine, can peace afford…”
Have to get Darrell and go see the doc. Shouldn’t be too bad. Maybe her heart. I just know it’s a girl this time. With Stephen, it looked like I was carrying a basketball, and this one makes me look like a bowling pin! Must be a girl. Maybe it’s her heart.
“Darrell, we need to get to T3’s office (my ob). I think it’s the baby’s heart.”
Off we go, each in our own thoughts. The file from the hospital gets to the office before the doctor does, but they show us right in.
“I’ve got bad news,” T3 says, “your baby has no brain.”
“…I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee…every hour I need Thee…”
Ancephaly with gross chromosomal anomalies.
Well needless to say, the next few days are a blur. The birth, the death, and the funeral. Mercifully, Angela Renee dies not long after birth. She was a pretty little girl. Big eyes like her brother too. But it takes me a few months, and then I’m walking on my own two feet now; and not very well. Sleeping constantly. Highly emotional. Classic depression. Oh Lord, what am I going to do? You know we want more children. This is too much.
“…now bless me now my Saviour, I come to Thee.”
“You’re going to have another little girl”
“What Lord? Really? Oh, thank you!!”
“But she’ll have Down Syndrome.”
“So what. She’ll be alive, and I’ve had the alternative. Praise the Lord. So…when?”
No answer.
Fast forward four years to a hospital room, and the pediatrician greeting the new parents.
“So…what have you named your daughter?”
“Martha Cathleen”
“Beautiful name. Have you noticed something wrong with your daughter?”
“What…that she has Down Syndrome…?”
God always keeps His promises.
oh what a preety little girl, i have a little boy who is 3 with down sydrome, he is the center of my world, they are so special, wouldn’t trade him for the world, they are priceless
you have a beautiful little girl . I was blessed this pass year with a baby boy with down sydrome his name is joshua he is now 13 months old.
Martha is beautiful.
My daughter, Kaylee, just turned two and continually exceeds the expectations of everyone. Looking back at when she was born, it’s hard to believe what we feel now. At first we were crushed. It’s like all your hopes and dreams for your child are wiped away. My dad always told me, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans”. Now, everything is beautiful. You finally see the world through different eyes. You see what really matters. I love Kaylee more than I can express. I live for her and her older brother, Dylan.
May God continue to bless you and your family as he has blessed us. Tell Martha that Kaylee says “Hi”
Best regards,
Todd Hight and family
I have a little 2 yr old daughter with DS and I tell you what, she is the most amazing creature I have ever met.
Your daughter is one of a million+ amazing individuals with DS.
We as well have a daughter (Aftyn) with Downs who is four years old. She is the first of three children thus far. I can say with no reservations that she has brought so much joy to our family. My wife and I have learned a great deal more about life through Aftyn than we could have ever imagined. Aftyn brings out the good in every person that she comes in contact with. Having a daughter with Downs wasn’t a road block as we first thought, but rather a new life experience that is more valuable than I could have ever imagined.
Travis Christenson
We have a little boy (Jacob) with Downs who is 2 1/2. He is the youngest of 5 children. He is the light of our lives. Everyday is a new experience that I would not trade for anything. He is such an encouragement to us all. It is so sad to think that the doctor we originally seen had no hope for this little man. We were told he would never do anything and yet he has far exceeded all that we could ever think or imagine. What a true blessing to our whole family.