
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, February 4, 1991                   TAG: 9102040251
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAMES J. REED
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MIRACLE BABY/ IN TINY GRANDCHILD'S PROGRESS, A REASON TO REJECT ABORTION

IN OCTOBER, I learned that my daughter, 5 1/2 months pregnant, needed special care after hearing from her doctors she had placenta previa that could cause massive bleeding at any time.

I went to Florida to care for her and her four children.

Late one night, exactly six months into her pregnancy, she started to bleed profusely. Her husband took her immediately to the hospital. Because of the massive bleeding, a team of doctors were forced to deliver her baby by Caesarean section. She required 14 pints of blood during and after the delivery. By the grace of God, she pulled through the ordeal.

Her baby, weighing 1 pound 5 ounces at birth, was given little chance to live. But this little fighter had her own plans. After the first eight hours, she was transferred to St. Petersburg, Fla., Children's Hospital, where she was put on a respirator and fed intravenously through the vein in her foot.

The vein collapsed. The foot turned black. The doctors believed she would lose the foot. The toes began to shrivel.

My daughter was informed later the foot might be saved but the toes would probably drop off. My wife and I had a good cry after seeing the baby. We left her fate in the hands of God.

We returned to my daughter, in Lakeland Memorial Hospital, to prepare her for the worst.

A few days later, after getting out of the hospital, she went to the St. Petersburg hospital with her husband. She came back so positive.

It's now three months later, after a lot of prayers and many setbacks. Not only did the baby retain her foot, but her toes grew back. The nurse said she is truly a miracle child.

She recently left the hospital. Her weight is 4 lbs. 13 ounces. She's a beautiful little girl. Her name is Sarah Elizabeth. Little Sarah Elizabeth may still have a hard road ahead. But with God's help and many prayers, she will make it.

I wish all those who may be thinking about having an abortion will realize that these little ones have a right to live; that no one has the right to play God and to butcher one of God's little creatures.

Do you really believe God will accept excuses for taking the life of his precious little ones?

by CNB