Forty years ago a beautiful baby girl named Anastasia was born in Rochester, PA. She lived for three hours before she went to her eternal home. She weighed about one pound, ten ounces at birth. Watching her struggle to survive in the small incubator, my thoughts randomly wandered to what could I have done better. What we learned on that day was that medically the medical team did all that they could do for her. She was too weak to survive. My wife wanted to have closure with seeing the baby after the baby had expired. Yet it took about twenty-five years later to have a marker placed at her location in the cemetery. Medically, the doctors assured us that we could have more children but with a special medical procedure for each pregnancy. Yes, we learned that we could have additional children for our family. We were blessed with four more children...two girls and two boys. The odds against this happening were unknown, but certainly a calculated risk.
We learned a lesson of Hope for the present and for the future. We learned that the Giver of All Human Life may have taken one life back, but gave four more lives to our family. What every mother may have to endure with each pregnancy is whether that life growing within her body would be healthy to survive. We were fortunate that the doctor who delivered Anastasia asked our permission to baptize our baby. We know that Anastasia has been keeping an eye open for our family while in her eternal home. On that February 3, we also learned the value of community support through our church and through our career. The entire basketball team that I was coaching plus the assistant coach were comforting and reassuring during that time of sorrow. We had a wonderful funeral attended by the entire basketball team, by members of the K of C, and other members of our parish family. Also, our relative and friends were helpful in getting us through a trying time. Yes, we learned a wonderful lesson in Hope.
Today, as we reflect back on that time in our life, we thank the medical community, the parish family, the community, and our family and friends for their prayers and moral support. We salute our beautiful baby girl, Anastasia, as SAINT ANASTASIA ...reminding us of Hope in a world that seems to have lost its desire for eternal hope. Also, we salute all mothers who have born a baby and who may have had to endure the pain of loss because of some medically unknown reason for a baby's death. These mothers CHOSE LIFE...they wanted to have a new life come into the world...these mothers were unselfish and loving...but had to endure an unexpected turn of events. But these mothers who had faith know that their children are with God for all eternity. What a wonderful discovery of faith, hope, and enduring and lasting love.
To all of the women in the world, I share this verse that has been passed on to me over the years. Hopefully, the men in their lives will read and understand what really matters in a good relationship.
"Woman was made from the rib of man. She was not created from his head - to top him nor from his feet - to be stepped upon. She was made from his side - to be equal to him...from beneath his arm - to be protected by him--near his heart--TO BE LOVED BY HIM!"
We learned a lesson of Hope for the present and for the future. We learned that the Giver of All Human Life may have taken one life back, but gave four more lives to our family. What every mother may have to endure with each pregnancy is whether that life growing within her body would be healthy to survive. We were fortunate that the doctor who delivered Anastasia asked our permission to baptize our baby. We know that Anastasia has been keeping an eye open for our family while in her eternal home. On that February 3, we also learned the value of community support through our church and through our career. The entire basketball team that I was coaching plus the assistant coach were comforting and reassuring during that time of sorrow. We had a wonderful funeral attended by the entire basketball team, by members of the K of C, and other members of our parish family. Also, our relative and friends were helpful in getting us through a trying time. Yes, we learned a wonderful lesson in Hope.
Today, as we reflect back on that time in our life, we thank the medical community, the parish family, the community, and our family and friends for their prayers and moral support. We salute our beautiful baby girl, Anastasia, as SAINT ANASTASIA ...reminding us of Hope in a world that seems to have lost its desire for eternal hope. Also, we salute all mothers who have born a baby and who may have had to endure the pain of loss because of some medically unknown reason for a baby's death. These mothers CHOSE LIFE...they wanted to have a new life come into the world...these mothers were unselfish and loving...but had to endure an unexpected turn of events. But these mothers who had faith know that their children are with God for all eternity. What a wonderful discovery of faith, hope, and enduring and lasting love.
To all of the women in the world, I share this verse that has been passed on to me over the years. Hopefully, the men in their lives will read and understand what really matters in a good relationship.
"Woman was made from the rib of man. She was not created from his head - to top him nor from his feet - to be stepped upon. She was made from his side - to be equal to him...from beneath his arm - to be protected by him--near his heart--TO BE LOVED BY HIM!"
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