An Ambulance with Wings: Learning to Trust God Through the Journey of Isaac: a Special Needs Child
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About this ebook
An Ambulance With Wings is a story of faith and how God works through ordinary people. The story begins with a couple who lived without thinking of God or His purpose. As their story unfolds, through the birth of their son, God finds them in a neonatal intensive care unit. Within minutes after Isaacs birth, he begins to have horrible seizures followed by a multitude of tests to find their cause. As their son fights for life, the days are not easy as hours turn to days and hope turns to despair. The couple is devastated as they learn their newborn son has suffered bilateral strokes while still in the womb. A diagnosis of cerebral palsy and epilepsy combine to form a bleak prognosis, thats where faith comes in.
It is often said there is no medical explanation for why Isaac survived. In only four short years Isaac was in intensive care 8 times, hospitalized 3 additional times, airlifted by helicopter 3 times, taken by ambulance 3 more, on life support 2 times and underwent 2 major brain surgeries for status seizures. Still, Isaac does what many thought he may never do: he walks, talks, runs and has normal intelligence. Even more amazing, since hemispherectomy brain surgery, Isaac does all that with barely over half of his brain.
In An Ambulance With Wings, a mother gives you heart wrenching details of the days spent in intensive care with not only Isaac, but his younger brother who also spent time in the neonatal intensive care. You will feel that you are there as you travel the journey from birth to brain surgery and beyond. You will find encouragement in your own walk with the Lord as you witness how God used the events of one childs life to build a testimony!
Marsha N. Edens
Marsha N. Edens lives in Chesnee, South Carolina with her husband, Mike, and two sons, Isaac and Caleb. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and previously worked in the healthcare field in Human Resources. Marsha now works part-time with Family Connection of South Carolina. With Family Connection, she has the opportunity to reach out to other families that have children with special health care conditions. Marsha strives to increase awareness of infant stroke. Her writing has been published in Neurology Now, an official publication of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). In addition to the love of her job and for writing, comes an even higher priority-she dedicates her days to raising and homeschooling her children. Marsha also loves having the opportunity to share what God has done for her family while using her gift of public speaking. She shares her family’s story to educate, encourage and spread the Word of God. She, along with her husband, Mike, have spoken at churches, support groups, ladies groups, schools and community clubs about their family’s testimony.
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An Ambulance with Wings - Marsha N. Edens
Contents
I Dreamed of You
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
About the Author
This book is dedicated to Isaac & Caleb:
God’s special gifts that awakened our hearts
to love that we had never known
I Dreamed of You
I Dreamed of You
By: Marsha N. Edens
I dreamed of you before I knew your name or date of birth.
I saw your precious face for the first time and knew that I would
be forever in love.
I longed to hold you, but was told you first had to be stable.
I learned that my life had been forever changed.
I dreamed of you before I knew your name or date of birth.
A dream, until your first breath of life was in black & white.
A dream that has become our reality and you; its’ blessing.
I learned this is no less, only painted differently than I expected.
I dreamed of you before I knew your name or date of birth.
Because of you I have been blessed to witness the grace, love & hope
that the testimony of one life can bring.
As I have watched you struggle to hold on to life,
I learned the true meaning of when I could no longer carry
myself, God would.
I dreamed of you before I knew your name or date of birth.
You, my sons, are far more special than I ever imagined.
You have opened my eyes to view life as so much more.
You have shown courage that many will never know. And
I learned that God never makes a mistake and He still
performs miracles.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
As I have spent days, weeks and months pouring my heart into this book I found myself recalling, This really did happen to us, it was real.
Even within the words of my own book I sometimes felt I was reading a stranger’s story. Retracing the most difficult days of our journey where God alone held us up, it feels almost like a dream. As people often asked, How do you do it?
It was only by God’s grace and strength that we got through the days without sleep and the months without answers. I pray that you are blessed as you read through the pages of our life, knowing that I am no medical professional, no doctor with years of experience, only a mother called by God to learn from, care for and love His precious gifts, my children. My name appears as author of this book, but the story is really God’s, He just allowed me to write it with Him. And to the many that have been there along the way….
To my best friend and wonderful husband, Mike: You have been there in ways I could never describe. I am so thankful for the godly example you set before our children. I thank God for the heart you have for the ministry and for God’s Word. In our ten years of marriage, not one day has passed that I wouldn’t say I do
all over again.
To my precious parents, Wayne and Linda: What would we have done without you being so close by? I know that always being on the scene to watch Isaac struggle to breathe kept you unnerved, but you were always there for us. Thank you for helping take care of little Caleb while we cared for Isaac. I thank God for your support and godly values on my life.
To my wonderful in-laws, Skip and Sheeree: Thank you also for helping us take care of Caleb while Isaac was sick. Thank you for driving from miles away to be with us at the hospital and for always remembering to bring Isaac a new toy truck to brighten his day.
To our siblings and their spouses, Chris & Theresa, Jeff & Shannon, Christy & Ben: You have all been there to share your tears with ours and that meant as much to us as anything you could have done. You went out of your way to spread the word about Isaac and help us through emailing, selling signs, bracelets, serving hotdogs & spaghetti. To my brothers, Chris & Jeff: Thank you also for taking the time to set-up and host the fishing tournament fundraiser. We appreciate you sharing your passion to help benefit our family and Isaac. For Jeff: Thank you also for taking the time to help sketch and pitch me ideas for my book’s cover.
To our amazing church family at SonRise Baptist: Where do I begin? You people are the most amazing and giving people I have ever witnessed. Thank you for organizing and pulling off such awesome fundraisers for our family, for the visits to the hospital over and over again and for the many cooked meals. You did so much that the list could go on and on. We thank you for your support, your love and most of all your prayers.
To the wonderful folks of Strawberry Hill, USA: Thank you for hosting and helping with the spaghetti fundraiser for Isaac and our family. I have been so blessed to grow up with your wonderful family.
To our pastor, David: Thank you for being there to support us when times were really hard. You have seen us endure some difficult moments and we were thankful that you were there to comfort and pray with us.
To the many others churches, our community and friends: We have been blessed beyond words with support from so many. We may never know the name of each person that helped our family, but God does. Thank you!
Thank you to the many medical professionals that God used to perform so many miracles for Isaac. For the awesome care given to Isaac through ER’s, EMS units, emergency helicopters, and hospitals, we are thankful for each of you that touched our lives. We especially thank Dr. Augusto Morales for your unsurpassed knowledge and your incomparable love for each individual patient, Dr. Yong Park for your genuine concern that you show to your patients and their families, and Dr. Mark Lee for your fun-loving attitude and precise surgical knowledge.
To those that helped edit, David, Florence, Heather, Kim and Susan. Thank you for taking the time to read through the pages of our lives first. Your input was greatly appreciated!
And last, but not least, to Isaac & Caleb: I always dreamed of being a mommy, but holding you in my arms surpasses all that I ever imagined motherhood could bring. I thank God that He picked me to love you. You boys have taught me more in your six years of life than I will ever be able to teach you. You are my heroes!
Foreword
Foreword
Foreword
Isaac
was a name well chosen for their son by Marsha and Mike Edens. His biblical namesake was a miracle child, born to a ninety year old mom and a centenarian dad. Doctors say there is no medical explanation for Isaac Edens being alive. Isaac is the Hebrew word for laughter,
as Sarah and Abraham laughed at the idea of becoming parents at their ages. The Edens’ medical nightmares have been no laughing matter, but their son has brought smiles to so many. Isaac was the poster child
of promise in the Bible. Isaac Edens’ journey has thrust his parents on the promises of God and given promise to those whose problems pale by comparison.
The Lord gave me a front row seat to this poignant play. I’m the Director of Missions for Isaac’s congregation, one very active in our Baptist association. I have waited with them in hospitals, worshiped with them in church, and even led the ordination council for their associate pastor, Mike Edens. This unfolding drama has kept me on the edge of my seat, one exciting act after the other. The medical twists and turns supply the excitement, especially when God keeps intervening. The family’s faith and perseverance provide the encouragement. The new ways the church and community keep finding to wrap arms of love around this precious family add the endearment. God’s amazing grace continues the enablement.
Now that Marsha has found time between the new developments to recall the steps to this point, you can retrace with the Edens this exciting journey. The writing gift God has given her will make it almost like you were there yourself! As you read, thank the Lord for what He’s already done, pray for the Edens on what He is doing, and be challenged to how the Lord wants to work in and through your life and the situations you face. God bless. He has, He does, and He will!
Dr. Jim Goodroe
Director of Missions
Spartanburg County Baptist Network,
South Carolina
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Though they never dreamed that their walk of faith would take them down the path they have traveled over the past 5 years, we are reminded that our Lord never promised a smooth journey. Only that He would walk with us. The star of the story is not Mike, Marsha, or even Isaac, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is He whose light shines through as He gave strength to this young mother and father as He carried their Isaac through those very terrifying and long hours. This intriguing story of a young child, who is neither (by medical terms) able to walk, talk, use his hand, or have good vision was playing soccer only six months after having undergone two major brain surgeries and having suffered status seizures several times. Only by God’s grace through His precious Son, Jesus Christ could such amazing things happen. To Him be all the glory and praise.
As you read the following story, you will experience the highs and the lows of emotions as this young couple watched the strength draining emotions take place. In all that has happened, I can testify as their pastor that I never saw a moment in the life of this young family where their faith in God wavered. It was the power and the presence of the Lord Jesus through the workings of the Holy Spirit that they were able to withstand the assaults. For this, to God be the glory.
I commend to you this book in the hope that through the struggles you are experiencing, you will also find His
precious presence just as close as Mike, Marsha, Isaac, and all who know them found during this experience.
Thank you Jesus for showing your marvelous power!
Rev. David Moore
Senior Pastor
SonRise Baptist Church