Martha and Marcia: Two Friends, Two Babies

Martha Teal's blog is called "Lookin' Up."

Last week, I posted “99 Balloons,” the touching video story of the life of Eliot Mooney. While visiting his parent’s website (Matt and Ginny Mooney), I noticed a poem by Martha Teal entitled “For Nathan.”  Having a Nathan* of my own, I was intrigued enough to read it.  I’m so glad I did…it was a beautiful tribute to baby Naomi, born the same day as her son, Nathan.  The story behind the poem is exceptional.  I wrote Martha and asked her for permission to publish it on Nathan’s Prayer.  Here’s what she said:

Marcia and I met at church and taught Sunday School together in the fall of 1989. We found out we were pregnant at the same time, went to the same doctor, and were due two days apart.  Neither of us was thrilled to be pregnant as we each had several children already at home, Marcia-three and myself-four.  Her ultrasounds showed some abnormalities, and although we never talked about it together, we both mentally prepared ourselves for her to bring home a baby with Downs even though that diagnosis was never given.

I delivered my son on June 19 at 12:30 am, fine and healthy,  He weighed just under 8 pounds.  Marcia and her husband stopped by to visit us the next morning when she came in for a stress test.  She was scheduled for a C-section the following day, but the stress test didn’t go well, and they decided to take the baby that day instead.  And so, after discovering our pregnancies at the same time, sharing visits to the doctor (we often made our appointments at the same time), and becoming good friends, we delivered on the same day. [Marcia's baby, Naomi, was born with Trisomy 18.]

I had a chance to visit Marcia while we were still in the same hospital (she was later transferred because of Naomi’s condition), but the nurses didn’t want me to take my baby into her room.  It was a sad and confusing day and in the confusion, I never asked to see her baby.  I’m not sure why God brought us through an experience like this together only to have Marcia’s baby live just two days, but I know He is an awesome God who makes no mistakes.  Something happened during that time that was bigger than any of us could understand…I know that.

And so, Eliot’s story touched my heart deeply.  What a blessing to meet that little one even if only through an internet video and blog.  Someday my Nathan and I will meet Naomi, too, and maybe someday we’ll find out the bigger work that God was doing.

You are welcome to use my poem and story.  I pray it blesses and encourages someone else out there.

In Jesus, Martha Teal

On her son’s first birthday, Martha wrote this poem and shared it with her friend, Marcia:

FOR NATHAN

There’s a little girl in heaven
Who is just about your size,
She plays peek-a-boo with Jesus
And watches angels fly.

And when she needs to have a hug,
She climbs on Jesus’ knee,
He wraps His arms around her
And loves her perfectly.

Sometimes he tells her stories
About her mom and dad,
And how much her family loves her,
I know that makes her glad.

Jesus cares for children,
So if she ever cries,
He takes her up into His arms
And gently dries her eyes.

I watch you growing bigger,
And as you learn to stand,
She learns to walk in heaven
By holding Jesus’ hand.

- by Martha Teal

I wrote Martha back:

Thank you so much for giving the green light for me to post your lovely poem and story.  I already see great meaning and purpose in your experience.  We have become such a throw away society that we fail to see the beauty in the short lives of the Eliots and Naomis of the world.  I love stories like this because they teach us to cherish the gifts that God gives us, especially the imperfect ones.

[Visit Martha Teal's blog at http://justseven.blogspot.com/]

*Nathan’s Prayer is named for my son who was born with Scimitar Syndrome.  In July of 2006, Dr. Edward Bove successfully performed heart surgery on Nathan.  Three months later, we discovered a back defect would require spinal fusion surgery to prevent paralysis.  It’s been a tough journey, but Nathan is doing great!

Tags: 99 Balloons, Dr. Edward Bove, Eliot Mooney, Matt and Ginny Mooney, Nathan, Nathan's Prayer, Scimitar Syndrome, spinal fusion, Trisomy 18