A Blog post by
Viorica Marincus
In 1996, life took an unexpected turn for me. At forty-six, I was blessed with a baby boy, Jeremiah, who was born with Down syndrome. When I first learned I was expecting, I felt overwhelmed, and discovering that my baby had Down syndrome left me distraught and questioning why this was happening. But when Jeremiah was born that summer, he brought an indescribable joy into our lives.
During my pregnancy, doctors discovered a lump on my body. They didn't believe it was cancerous and suggested we wait until after the birth to investigate further. Just three months after Jeremiah was born, he had to undergo open-heart surgery due to complications, which was a truly trying time for our family. Not long after, I experienced other health issues and needed surgery. During that procedure, the doctor took a biopsy of the lump. A few days later, I received a call that turned my world upside down—I had cancer, and immediate surgery was recommended. Two-and-a-half weeks later, the lump was removed.
In the days and months that followed, there were moments when I wondered how I could face another day. But deep down, I held onto the belief that God doesn't make mistakes. Jeremiah turned 24 this summer, and I’m still here, more than twenty years beyond the five years doctors initially gave me.
Jeremiah had another open-heart surgery when he was five, but has been relatively healthy since. Raising a child with special needs has been a very different experience from raising our other six children. Each day brings its challenges, but there have also been countless moments of joy.
Today, as I reflect on my blessings, Jeremiah is always at the top of my list.
