Baby Love

She is

Abandoned. Helpless. Orphaned. Unknown. Unnamed.

And yet, she is

A Miracle. A Fighter. Survivor. Gift of God. Precious. Dearly Loved. Divinely created for a special purpose.

She is Baby Love.

Our relationship with our local hospital through which we have established our program to provide medical care to those who would otherwise be without treatment has become a lovely working relationship with fellow-Christian hospital administrators who readily communicate with us. I have learned of their sacrifices and their great care, often trying to find funding amongst themselves to care for patients otherwise left untreated. They are grateful for our funding, and I am ever so grateful for their care and compassion, and the integrity with which we can work together.

A few weeks ago, as I was just about to end my day and go to sleep, I received a phone call from Christine, who is in charge of social needs within the hospital. “Laura, we have an abandoned baby. She was born at 26 weeks gestation, weighing only 900 grams (1 lb. 15.7 oz.). Her mother has fled, leaving the baby behind. Can you accept responsibility for this baby’s care and medical needs?”

I got up and dressed, stopped by a store to buy baby formula and diapers on my way, and immediately went to see this lovely baby. So tiny and frail in her incubator, the diapers I bought her, though the smallest size available sag down to her knees and cover her chest.

Now at one month old, she weighs a full Kilo (2.2 pounds). She needs no oxygen, she has been taken off all IVs and is only tube fed 24 ML every 3 hours (6 oz. per day).

I go daily to hold her, rock her, and sing to her, wanting her to have nurturing and care. I’m impressed with the nursing staff and their ability to care for her and other preemies with such little advanced medical technology available. I marvel that she is still alive. She has no mother pouring love into her, no reason to be clinging to life, and yet she does.

The hospital tells me, she will be released when she has reached 2 Kilos (4.4 pounds) or doubles her current weight.  For now, Love Alive is her provider. As she has no name, I’ve taken to calling her Baby Love.

I don’t know her mother’s circumstances or what led to her decision to leave her baby behind. I do know that I want this dear baby girl to grow up knowing she is loved beyond measure, that she has a purpose, that God kept her alive for a reason.

I don’t know what the next step of her journey will be; I only know I am grateful to be a tiny piece of her nurturing and care.

#PrayersforBabyLove