“We’re not gonna have a baby, we’re gonna have a funeral instead.”
There are few events in life that bring more excitement to a couple than the anticipation of a new baby. The height of that joy is rivaled only by the depth of heartache that comes with a troubled pregnancy.
Josh and Laura had three children under five and were pregnant with their fourth. Each of the first three pregnancies had progressed without complication.
But the fourth…
Call it a mother’s intuition – that mysterious and beautiful bond between a mother and her baby that not only connects them physically, but at a heart level. Despite initial tests indicating nothing unusual, Laura suspected something was wrong right from the beginning.
Late in the pregnancy, Laura and Josh went in for what was supposed to be a routine ultrasound. But as soon as the image appeared on the screen, Laura, a delivery nurse, knew her fears from the start had been accurate. There were black, empty spaces where white should have been.
The baby’s brain hadn’t developed.
The doctor diagnosed Laura and Josh’s baby with alobar holoprosencephaly, which in laymen’s terms meant that their preborn daughter only had a brain stem.
That’s when a shocked Laura turned to an equally stunned Josh and said, “We’re not gonna have a baby, we’re gonna have a funeral instead.”
You might expect that to be the end of their story … but it’s not.
This couple knew their baby was going to die, yet they still chose to celebrate their daughter’s life, no matter how short-lived.
They named her Pearl because they considered her a beautiful gift crafted through adversity.
The way Laura and Josh Huene chose to handle their difficult pregnancy is an inspiring example for all of us of how to embrace our challenging circumstances with God’s grace. Through it, they believe God gave them a story, opening them to healing, rather than a secret, which would have buried them underneath their own pain.
On today’s broadcast, “Dealing with Loss and Grief in an Adverse Pregnancy,” you’ll hear from the Huenes about their courageous decision to celebrate their daughter’s life. Join with us on your local radio station, anytime online, or via our free, downloadable mobile phone app.
I’d like to hear what you have to say as well. How has the Lord helped you to cope with a difficult pregnancy?
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