“We have to get this baby out now. The heart rate is falling. We’re losing her—hemorrhaging—”
Words and phrases swirled around her as she closed her eyes. She could hear Matt praying for her and the baby, but Matt didn’t pray.
“She’s too far along for a C-section. We have to decide between baby and mother, Matt.”
“Save Anna,” was the last thing she heard.
He notified Anna’s sister and sat by her side holding her limp, still hands within his. Matt didn’t want to leave but knew upon their arrival he wouldn’t be welcome.
“We’ll take it from here, Dr. Carmichael.” Lana said in voice as hard as stone. “Had it not been for you, she wouldn’t be lying here now.”
Her husband interrupted, “Lana, this is not the time nor the place.”
Matt hung his head in regret and got up to leave. His weary legs carried him down the hall to the nursery. If he couldn’t be with Anna, he would be with his baby girl, and no one could prevent that.
Taken with forceps, yet somehow not bruised, Matt gazed down at his perfect daughter. In awe, he smiled at the most incredible gift life had ever given him.
He donned a gown in preparation and signaled to the nurse he was ready. She brought the sleeping child and placed her gently in his arms. “Oh, she’s so tiny.”
The nurse nodded in agreement. “She’s beautiful, Dr. Carmichael.”
“That she is,” he said, as a tired smile split his face.
He sat in the nearby rocker and soaked in her loveliness.
“We have to pray for your mama, little one. She has to come back to us.” Giant tears coursed down his face, as he rocked back and forth. He would’ve never jeopardized Anna’s life to have a baby, but holding this precious gift in his arms filled him with awe. In that moment, he knew without reservation that the beautiful baby in his arms was God’s creation. Such perfection did not happen by chance.
Matt had never given in to emotion. In fact, he had prided himself on being a man of scientific thinking and rational behavior, but holding his newborn daughter changed everything. Pride flew out the window and faith flooded in. He understood how dangerously close he had come to losing them both and credited God where science and knowledge had failed.
Silent tears streamed. In humbleness, he thanked God for the life of his baby girl and begged God to save Anna’s life for the sake of them both.
Without anyone to explain repentance, he suddenly understood what Anna had been trying to tell him. What they did that night had been of the flesh, undisciplined and selfish. He wanted, no, needed God to forgive him for that and a whole lot more. There in the nursery with his baby in his arms, he surrendered his life to Jesus. Peace like nothing he had ever experienced flooded in.
The little one squirmed, and a tiny hand stretched out. She was hungry and wet. Soft mewing sounds quickly escalated into a healthy scream. One of the nurses rushed to help, but he stayed close—he wanted to learn how to attend to her needs.
Anna’s family, including both her sons, the pastor and his wife, and many friends, gathered to pray in the nearby waiting room. Only one person was allowed to be with her at a time. Matt would’ve loved to join in the prayer but didn’t feel welcome. He ached to see her but dared not ask.
To the pastor’s credit, he came in search of Matt. He found him gazing through the window at his sleeping child. “I see you have a healthy baby girl.”
“Yes, she’s an amazing gift.” Matt’s voice wavered and cracked. He stifled the tears and choked on his words. “But, of course, with a mother like hers …” a muscle jerked in his jaw and a groan slid out. “Her baby needs her, I need her.”
The pastor’s warm arm circled his shoulder. “We could pray about that together, Matt.”
“I have been praying.”
“Well, it never hurts to do it with a friend.”
The genuine warmth of this man drew Matt. There in the hallway, Matt did something he’d never done before. He prayed out loud. He didn’t care that his voice carried and echoed down the corridor, he cared only that Anna would be restored. Even if she never was his Anna, more than life itself, he wanted their baby to know her mother.
The pastor slipped away for a moment and returned with his wife. “We want you to take our turn and go in the room to visit Anna. We think she may respond to your voice, and I’ve talked to the family and have their consent.”
Matt couldn’t believe his ears. He was down the hall and in her room before they had time to second-guess their decision.
She stirred him beyond reason. His heart ached to see her frail and pallid complexion lost against the starkness of the white sheet.
“Anna, my love, we have a daughter. Please wake up. She’s so beautiful, and remember, I get to give her the middle name Joy.
“What a miracle. Her life is an answer to prayer. Yes, the proud Dr. Carmichael cried out to God, and He answered, Anna. We almost lost her …” He could no longer speak through the knot in his throat. He smoothed his hand up and down her arm and ran his fingers tenderly down her cheek.
“Anna, come back to us. Your baby girl needs you. I need you—”
Anna could feel the pull of something much stronger than her. The light and peace that beckoned her forward faded. She could hear his voice and feel the agony of physical pain at the same time. She longed to run toward the light, but words tugged her in the opposite direction.
“Anna, come back to us. Your baby girl needs you.”
“I need
