Treva and Kyle married August 19, 1995
While Kate had one baby after another, Treva struggled with infertility. After six years of marriage, they learned that she would be unable to have children. She was distraught. I was distraught for her.
In September 2002 my husband, Sam and three other dentists began planning a trip to Russia with Treasures of the Heart, a ministry our friend Stephanie Blackstone founded. They would provide much needed dental care to the orphans there. Of course, they needed dental assistants, so Laura, Sam’s oldest, and Treva who had experience were chosen to go on the trip.
While visiting an orphanage, I lost sight of Treva. I finally found her holding an infant. . .
“Oh, no!” my soul screamed. “After all Treva’s been through, not here, not now.” A golden hue streamed into the drab room through the thin yellow sheers that hung loosely over the dilapidated window. The room could have been a closet or storage room in ages past. Now six crudely constructed plywood bins crammed the confined space in this Russian orphanage. She stood transfixed with this teeny fragile bundle in her gentle grip. The tiny thing was encased like a chrysalis wrapped from the neck down as they do the young babies there. Treva’s gaze was locked on the baby’s face. I could almost visualize the maternal tie being woven with the strands of her intense look in that moment. A tiny head lay in the palm of Treva’s hand motionless with hollow globes for eyes that seemed to register nothing. I could see right away this child was at great risk of never having a normal healthy life. Couldn’t my daughter see it too?
Flashbacks of images crossed my mind like an album of sad photos. I had worked with children who had severe and multiple disabilities. All the memories of those children came flooding back. Facilities and equipment needed to care for high-risk babies in this part of the world were almost nonexistent.
I knew that my daughter was influenced greatly by my opinions, and often asked for my advice. Not this time. She was resolute. Perhaps she saw the concern etched into my face and dared not request a response that would sway her.
“Why? Why now? Why here?” I groaned silently. Our Russian friend, Dr. Sergey, spoke in broken English, “This baby was born very too early, week of thirty and has failure to thrive and muscle atrophy. She spits, like throwing up. She has hernia, maybe three.”
And, the determining factor, as far as I was concerned was when he said, “She is deaf.”
When I saw the four-pound person in Treva’s arms, my concern bordered on horror. She was extremely frail.
“God,” I pleaded. “No, not this baby.” Surely God would listen to me. Why not? I loved the Lord. I had trusted God with my life and my children. Still, it was difficult. I didn’t expect the answer I longed for.
To be continued . .
I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. In 2007 I founded SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on Amazon. My Website.
gailshowalterblog.com 