A Blog post by
Viorica Marincus
In 1996, my life took an unexpected turn. At the age of 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 the diagnosis left me distraught and questioning why this was happening. But when Jeremiah arrived that summer, he brought with him an indescribable joy that changed everything.
During my pregnancy, doctors discovered a lump on my body. They believed it wasn’t cancerous and advised waiting until after the birth to investigate further. Just three months later, Jeremiah underwent open-heart surgery — a trying time for our family. Soon after, I faced my own health struggles. During surgery, doctors biopsied the lump, and a few days later I received a call that turned my world upside down: it was cancer, and immediate treatment was needed. Two and a half weeks later, the lump was removed.
In the days that followed, I often wondered how I would find the strength to face another day. Yet deep down I held onto the belief that God doesn’t make mistakes. Doctors gave me five years to live, but more than two decades later, I’m still here — and Jeremiah, who turned 24 this summer, continues to be a blessing beyond words.
Raising a child with special needs has been a very different experience from raising our other six children. There have been challenges, but also countless moments of joy. Today, when I reflect on my blessings, Jeremiah is always at the top of my list.
