by Lynette Auch, President of National Lutherans For Life
The date was December 23. Outside the hospital, a whiteout blizzard was raging. Inside, the young parents were rejoicing at the birth of their first baby, a beautiful boy named Jordan. After a long and difficult labor, the child entered the world screaming and active.
As the parents welcomed and snuggled their baby, little did they know that a few hours later, Jordan would need complete life support and way more medical interventions than the hospital was equipped to provide. He needed to be transported immediately to a medical facility with those capabilities, but the whiteout storm prohibited such a transport.
Neonatal doctors provided guidance to the team of doctor, nurses, pharmacist, respiratory therapists, and other vital ancillary staff via the electronic neonatal intensive care unit. But, despite heroic efforts, the baby’s condition did not improve. Time was of the essence as the baby’s oxygen levels plummeted below the level to support life.
Realizing Jordan was deteriorating and weather conditions were not speedily improving, the medical team was faced with the difficult task of informing Jordan’s parents that he may not survive—and if he did, he may be adversely affected by the prolonged acidic condition of his poorly oxygenated blood.
With overwhelming feelings, Jordan’s parents consented to have him baptized by the hospital chaplain as the medical team encircled the little family. Everyone prayed silently that God would not let this baby die, especially the day before Christmas Eve!
For some, just the word “death” sets thoughts, feelings, and emotions reeling. Fear may be one of the strongest emotions associated with death and dying, especially in the dying process, which is usually associated with pain, suffering, and loss of dignity. No one wants to suffer. Even Christ, Himself, asked of our Heavenly Father, “If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Matthew 26:39).
Fear of death has been the driving force behind draconian efforts over the past year. This fear has isolated and imprisoned much of the world behind shut doors, away from human relationships and the healing power of loving, physical human touch.
We were not created to be alone and isolated. God went to the extreme of showing Adam that he needed a helper fit for him.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (Genesis 1:26). “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’ Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them … But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18-20).
We were made in the image of God, who in His very nature is in relationship with the Son and the Holy Spirit, three persons in one God, so, we too need relationships—relationships with God and man.
Death brings sadness and separation from those we dearly love, those with whom we have relationships. But have not the draconian actions taken over the past year done the same thing? Are we really doing loved ones a favor by imprisoning them in a room or home in isolation and loneliness over the fear of sickness and death? Have we not traded one evil for another?
Society considers death an enemy to be defeated. But Jesus Christ has already defeated death for us. Death is just the vehicle to eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
This promise of eternal life, therefore, should lead us to celebrate the gift of life and the moments to live in relationship with one another.
Outside, the winter storm weakened, and Jordan survived to be transported, and he received the medical care that he desperately needed. Nearly a month later, Jordan was well enough to go home with his parents. Currently, Jordan is healthy and acting normal for his age. Miracles still happen! Jordan’s life touched every caregiver’s life in a very tangible way that day, reminding us of this truth:
“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:7-8).