"No Distance in Prayer" by Heidi Meyer

An article for www.goodnewsdaily.com written by Heidi Meyer in hopes of winning a writing contest and donating the prize (a trip to Hawaii) to John and Susan Langager. Following is the final, published draft:

For some people, finding the right person takes a very long time. For those of us who have experienced this, it feels as if life has almost passed us by. My friend Susan and I found our wonderful husbands and began trying to have families late in life, Susan even later than I.

After two miscarriages my husband and I had our first son John. We endured two more miscarriages before we finally became pregnant again. Even though we received blood work that indicated that there were serious problems, God answered our prayers and brought our son Joshua into the world healthy and whole.

My friend Susan became pregnant halfway through my pregnancy with Joshua. Days after my son was born, Susan’s water broke at 19 weeks, putting her into pre-term labor. She was rushed to the hospital, but because she was only halfway through her pregnancy, they sent her home knowing that the child had approximately 48 hours to live. They gave her the option to abort, but Susan decided to go the distance, however far that meant and however hard it might be. After I received the news of her situation, I began to pray. I stood in the wee hours of the night, holding our new precious son in my arms, crying out to God for a miracle for Susan and her husband John.

One week passed. Susan prayerfully returned to the doctor to determine the status of the baby through an ultrasound. The fluid around the baby was still completely gone, but miraculously the baby was still alive. Susan was put on complete bed rest. We continued to pray and hurt for her plight. For five weeks Susan lay in bed, praying around the clock for the tiny life inside to make it. Many prayed and at each appointment the news was the same: no fluid, but the baby was growing and was still alive!

At 24 weeks Susan was admitted into a special unit at a nearby hospital for monitoring. It was at this point that baby David was considered “viable” by the medical professionals. At 26 weeks Susan delivered baby David, who weighed a mere 2 pounds, 1 ounce. Immediately, Susan’s friends and family set up a website with pictures and updates to encourage fervent prayer. People from all over the world volunteered to pray around the clock. There were many challenges, from swelling on his brain to a serious staph infection, but with each setback came specific answers to prayers. David came through it completely healthy. A whole community rejoiced as two grateful parents were able to bring “little” David home. David did so well he weighed 7 pounds 5.9 ounces when he left the hospital. Miracles still do happen, and God still hears people when they pray.

Although I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, I would like to submit this story on behalf of Susan, John, and baby David (who would not require a ticket to travel for some time). I have experienced difficulties and heart-rending hours in prayer for my child, but I cannot imagine lying in bed for hours on end, not knowing if the heart inside has stopped beating or if the news I receive next will break my heart.

Susan and her husband have had great courage. They have been through so much and have spent countless hours traveling and living out of suitcases to be beside David as he struggled, not only to breathe, but simply to live, developing outside the womb in an Isolette for three long months. Now that David is healthy, I would love nothing more than to see them holding their little guy in a beach hat and just enjoying the beautiful gift of life in one of the most beautiful places on earth.