Never stop fighting.
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Today is a special day. It’s my firstborn’s golden birthday. Emma was born on Ten-Ten-Ten, and today she turned Ten.
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She is the most competitive of all my children. Her fight to win in everything she does is ridiculous but comical.
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We have talked about trials in our life, but I don’t think we’ve thought about the trials we are given in our infancy.
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Emma was born and immediately taken to the NICU at St. Mark’s hospital. As a first-time mom and dad, there was some worry, fear, and emotion.
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Three of the closest times I’ve felt to a loving Heavenly Father were the days my children were born. Emma’s birthday was a day I felt His presence the most in my entire life.
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They took Emma, and after a while, I was able to go to the NICU to see her. I remember walking into the room filled with babies, and I walked over to Emma. A nurse didn’t guide me over, and there was no name tag placed on her station.
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There she was, fighting for what I believed to be her life. Cords everywhere, oxygen in her nose, and IV’s attached.
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A few minutes after standing there, the caretaking nurse walked over and placed a personalized decorated nametag on her station.
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At that moment, I realized I had no clue initially if that was my baby or not. I had just walked into a room with babies and happened to stop at my daughter’s station.
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As a dad, I couldn’t tell you which baby is which. If it were left up to me, I probably would have gone home with all the wrong children, if they weren’t tagged—Not with Emma, though.
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There was a connection with my daughter the moment I saw her. When I saw her in the NICU, I did not doubt. I knew she would be just fine.
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Emma has turned out to be one of the strongest, smartest, and healthiest kids. She came into this world with a trial, and she has been loved and blessed for the past ten years.
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To the parents who are in similar situations, know your Heavenly Father has a plan for your child and you. Sometimes the outcomes are not what we expect, but it is His will. Hear Him and know through Him, you can find comfort.