The Gracen Series 3/5: Jimmy, Dad

(THE GRACEN SERIES 3/5: Jimmy, Dad)

Why Did God allow this to happen? This was the question that I kept asking myself over and over while my newborn son lay in the NICU 13 years ago. The medical staff had just left Gracen’s bedspace in the intensive care unit when we found out that he was born without an esophagus, a heart defect, type 2 laryngeal cleft and Down syndrome.

I was completely lost and focused on what I believed to be the greatest and most immediate obstacle, Trisomy 21! I was so angry with this God I have served for years, I have never even been around someone with Down syndrome, how could I be a father to this new child? I was full of fear and doubt and believed in my heart that God made a huge mistake picking me to be Gracen’s Dad.

As it turned out, Gracen needed 60 surgeries up in Boston for his new esophagus, 1 surgery to repair his heart, and 1 surgery to repair his laryngeal cleft and all I needed was enough faith, courage, and willingness to see the blessing right in front of me.

I thank God every day for picking me to be Gracen’s Dad and for the awesome privilege of getting to help other families through our journey.

#TheLuckyFew #TheLuckyFewFoundation #DownSyndrome #ThisIsDownSyndrome