Miracles Do Happen

A year ago prayers were requested for a baby with Down syndrome. A miracle baby and valuable life lessons have come through the adversity that followed.

Saying that miracles do happen can lack meaning in today’s society. It might be said in a sanctimonious kind of way. Or, even worse, it might be used as a common and vain expression to say that this or that is special.

The Bible offers a narration of all the wonders that God worked for the people of Israel during their exile from Egypt: the cloud and the column of fire that gave them protection, the Israelites’ passing through the midst of the Red Sea on dry land, the manna that rained from the sky, the refreshing water from the rock and the other marvels God did for His people that are recorded in the Bible.

We may think, Oh, how foolish were the Israelites! How is it possible that in the face of such great events they did not repent, obey and fall down trembling in reverence?

We might even think, How blind they were!

And how blind, as well, are we today who fail to see! We fail to notice the sun rising every day; the night becoming day and the day becoming night; the ocean staying within its limits; and our ability to see, hear, taste, smell and feel. We take it all for granted. We have seemingly lost the capability to be in awe and wonder, to fall on our knees in an attitude of extreme gratitude for the work of God in our lives.

And now that we are speaking of awe and wonder, I want to tell you the wonderful things that have come to pass for my family in regard to my grandson Alexander Antonio, son of my eldest daughter. He was born with Down syndrome, and he has come to teach us, time and time again, life lessons that I am about to share with you.

Alexander was born on June 26, 2013, and since then we have known we are in God’s hands and Alexander’s life is dependent on God’s will.

Alexander’s parents have been a true example of resolve and caring love, not just at home but also during all of his hospital stays. Alexander was born with many physical complications: lung problems, the need for constant monitoring of his blood pressure and body temperature, etc.

Because he was unable to be fed by his mother due to a condition called muscular hypotonia, a tube was connected to his stomach in order to give him food. When the need for other testing arose, a catheter was inserted through his leg and other complications came about. His poor circulation was noticeable by the spider web appearance of the veins on the surface of his skin. But the worst problem was his badly functioning heart valves.

After two very difficult months, Alexander was released from the hospital to be taken home, where his parents would continue his incessant medical monitoring.

And therein lies the first lesson—to fight for life with all your strength just like a good soldier. Alexander was not yet free from pain. His body was covered in scars and tubes, yet we will never forget the smiles on his little round face.

And now being barely a year old, he must undergo open-heart surgery. After an entire year of prayers and fasting by our family and brethren in Joplin, Missouri, Mexico and other parts of the world—a gesture of unity that we cannot fail to remember and be forever grateful for—it is here, June 26, 2014. It is Alexander’s birthday, and he is having an evaluation that will prepare him for his open-heart surgical intervention.

We are prepared for a long stay in the hospital. We know that the complications could be many. The surgical procedure lasts five hours, and then, at last, we see the surgeon step into the little waiting room to give us his report. He comes down to the floor and supports himself on his right knee to talk to all of us (a gesture that I will never forget), and he informs us that everything went well and he feels confident of the outcome.

When Alexander is in his little bed recovering, he opens his eyes and makes an effort to bestow upon us a smile as wide and ample as he usually does. It will take only three days for his health to improve enough for him to be released from the hospital. By the first of July, my grandson Alexander is back home. 

Those of you who have gone through this type of suffering and difficulty understand what I am talking about and can put yourself in my shoes. We know how it feels.  

I reiterate my deep gratitude, first to God and then to the brethren in our faith. And there we see the second lesson: God answers our prayers and miracles do happen.  

Antonio Ramírez Bautista is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, congregation in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. His grandson Alexander is the son of Jose and Eunice Razo, who are Church members in Joplin, Missouri.