A 20 week ultrasound revealed the little baby forming in Serina's womb was to be born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Further tests were performed and thanks be to God the baby had no additional abnormalities. This news shook us all. When a pregnancy is announced, the typical immediate thought is of the sex of the baby rather than the simplistic hope of a healthy child. Ryan and Serina were now confronted with a new challenge of having a baby with physical abnormalities.
Months of prayer, months of preparation and months of what many of us know as refinement were in progress. God was using this unborn child to build the foundation of this family before he even took his first breath. And yes, by this time, the expecting parents who were not going to find out the sex, found out that they were expecting a baby boy! (yay for boys!)
Over the months God used Jeremiah 1 to speak truth to both Ryan and Serina and through this amazing scripture came his precious name.....Jeremiah. Ryder was chosen by Ryan, it means "knight". For Ryan, Ryder was going to be his Knight. Jeremiah 1:5 was a verse Serina held close to her heart "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you"
"For you formed my inward parts; covered me in my mothers womb. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works. And that my soul knows very well" Psalm 139:14
From this point, despite the endless appointments with specialists (plastic surgeons, neonatologists, etc) Ryan and Serina carried on only through the faith in the Lord and through the prayers and support of all their family and friends. Countless prayer warriors were interceding on behalf of this little family and all they were about to encounter over the next few months.
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| Serina's very favorite poem! |
After months of expectation, on Wednesday, July 10th, the day after Serina's 31st birthday at 9:04 PM beautiful preciously knit and perfectly formed baby Ryder Jeremiah was born at Mission Hospital. All 6 lbs and 12 oz and 19.5 inches of him had been perfectly developed and created just as God had intended. I had the proud privilege of being one of the first family members to welcome him into the world.
In Ryder Jeremiah's first three day's of life, he has tolerated numerous bottle feeds up to 20 mL and is growing. Mommy and Daddy are gradually digesting all there is to know in caring for a newborn and how to accommodate his abnormalities (cleft palate and cleft lip). Nurses, Doctors and consultants are educating family and parents on how to best care for baby Ryder Jeremiah. Baby Ryder will have his first reconstruction surgery once he reaches 10lbs, which at this rate of his feeds may come sooner than we all thought. Mommy and Daddy are sleep deprived (as many new parents already are) and are anxiously waiting and nervous for the day they can take their new bundle of joy home. Baby Ryder has a beautiful room awaiting his occupancy.
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| Where it all began, love...."I have loved you with an everlasting love". |
Prayers are greatly appreciated; for Ryder Jeremiah's journey of surgeries and healing, for Serina and Ryan being new parent's and learning all their is in taking care of a baby with cleft palate and cleft lip. And, the hopes that through this journey not only those directly involved but those watching would witness the amazing might and power of God through little Jeremiah's journey. And that they would be changed in knowing that "Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth..."Jeremiah 1:9
A great big thanks to everyone who has kept the Stockings in prayer and in thought. And endless thank you to the family and friends who have provided meals and visited. Serina and Ryan couldn't endure this without their Faith in Christ Jesus and the great support of everyone who has walked the journey with them thus far.
Stay tuned for updates on baby Ryder Jeremiah's progress.
Written by Serina's sister-Juleene AKA Auntie "Nee-Nee".
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