The sense of urgency in my mom's voice clearly indicated that something wasn't right. Mom had just gotten off the phone with
Ariki when she sped past me and told me to get my things and get in the car...Marie was in the ER and having contractions. We all piled in the car and made our way out to the hospital in
Waimea where Marie had planned to deliver the baby....which was supposed to be in November when he was due. Thoughts, fears, worry and hope filled our minds as every grandma decided to be on the road that day and the seconds turned into hours. Through the rear-view mirror I watched tears stream down my mom's face and her lips cry out to God that everything would be
ok. I couldn't help but allow my face to be painted with worry. My dad sat in
diligent prayer in the passenger seat and made phone calls to recruit prayer.
We arrived at the hospital and were greeted with the news that Marie was being prepped for surgery and baby was ready to come out. They had to do an emergency c-section and it was time for this baby to enter the world. We were also told that it was a miracle that they made it to the hospital because by the time Marie made it to the ER, she was fully dilated and ready to give birth. It was because the baby was breached that he wasn't delivered at home...a place where he surely wouldn't have made it.
We circled up and held hands and prayed. What more can you do in a time like this? Who is the ONE name you can call upon for strength? Certainly my mother and father who always made everything
ok as a child couldn't make things
ok now. The doctors could only do so much ...but they didn't have the ultimate say.
The ER doors burst open and a new life was wheeled into the ICU. Weighing in at one pound and 12 ounces, he could have fit in his father's hand. Lyon
Tehanana'ia Foster had arrived 3 months early.
Tehanana'ia means "the cherished one in the family" and there's no doubt in any of our minds that this child is something special. Something more than a miracle.
We watched with blurred eyes as they put different tubes in every place they could, pumped air into his tiny body, and watched numbers rise and fall. Never have I seen anything so tiny, so fragile, so amazing. As quickly as the worry consumed us, it was gone. God was in this room...you could feel it.
Ariki was allowed to go in and be with his son. It was so beautiful to watch him next to his son.
Ariki's pinkie was no bigger than Lyon's whole hand. As
Ariki spoke to Lyon, he began to come to life. His arms and legs began to move as if to let his father know he heard him, and then latched on to
Ariki's pinkie. That image will forever be
ingrained in my memory. We watched for hours as they monitored Lyon and waited for the airplane to take him to Oahu.
Finally they brought Marie to her room. She looked more beautiful than ever. The smile on her face told me where her faith was. You could feel the love in the room as we gathered around and praised God that she and baby were ok. The next 72 hours were going to be the most critical but the worst of it was over.
I'm still not sure what caused her to go into labor, perhaps she'll write a post on it, but it's well understood that God has purpose in all that he does. We often don't understand how and why He operates the way he does, but that's why He calls us to have faith...and to give thanks for everything. I'm in awe of the love that poured out from all our friends and family....distant and near. Thank you to all who came by, who brought food, who called, who sent texts...your love was felt and appreciated. The journey has just begun.
