A Blog post by
Viorica Marincus
In 1996, I had a surprise package come my way. At forty-six years old, God blessed us with a baby boy with Down’s syndrome. When I first found out that I was expecting, I was overwhelmed. When I found out that the baby had Down’s syndrome, I was distraught. I did not understand why this came my way. Jeremiah was born in the summer of 1996, and what joy he has brought to our lives.
During the pregnancy, the doctors found a lump on my body, which they did not think was cancerous, so they suggested waiting until after the baby was born to check it out further. Jeremiah was born with heart problems and he had to undergo open-heart surgery when he was just three months old. That was certainly a trying time. Approximately three months later, I began having problems with my gallbladder and had to have it removed. At that time, the doctor decided to take a biopsy of the lump. A few days later, I received a call that I certainly didn’t expect. I had cancer and the doctor recommended immediate surgery. About two-and-a-half weeks later, I underwent removal of the lump.
In the days and months to follow, many times I wondered if I could face another day, but I knew in my heart that God doesn’t make mistakes!
Jeremiah turned 24 years old this summer and I am still here, over twenty years beyond the five years the doctors initially told me I had to live.
Jeremiah underwent another open-heart surgery when he was five, but has been relatively healthy since then. Raising a child with special needs has been very different than raising our other six children. Challenges come up each day, but there have also been many times of joy.
Today, when I count my blessings, Jeremiah is certainly at the top of my list.
