Will you help support Noah’s legacy?

Your generous giving allows Abel Speaks to support families like ours. Thank you for your partnership as we seek to ensure that every family will cherish their child’s life and have hope in the midst of sorrow!

Abel Speaks is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

2001 W Plano Pkwy, Suite 3405 Plano, TX 75075

(972) 688-6405

Will you help support Noah’s legacy?

Your generous giving allows Abel Speaks to support families like ours. Thank you for your partnership as we seek to ensure that every family will cherish their child’s life and have hope in the midst of sorrow!

On June 29th we went in for our anatomy scan, expecting to see one wiggly healthy baby as we have with our previous pregnancies. We were utterly devastated when the technician called in the doctor to explain the news that changed our world forever. Our baby was given a life-limiting diagnosis and we soon learned medical terms that we had never heard of before. Left renal agenesis, right multicystic dysplastic kidney, and anhydramnios. In layman’s terms, one kidney that was cystic and not functional and had no amniotic fluid. We never knew how critical amniotic fluid was, but learned that it was essential for the development of lung tissue and without it, our baby would not be able to survive outside of the womb due to pulmonary hypoplasia. We were heartbroken to hear these doctors use terms like “lethal diagnosis” & “not compatible” about our little boy who we already loved so much. We decided then and there that there was nothing “not compatible” about our son and that he was 100% compatible for the Kingdom and that God had a purpose for his life.

There was no other choice for us but to carry our baby to term. Children are a gift from God and we have always been open to the gift of life. We have three beautiful living daughters, but walked in the valley of grief in 2018 losing three precious babies very early in pregnancy. All of our children have been given to us by God to steward and ultimately guide back to Him.

As we battled the flood of emotions that followed the initial diagnosis, we were overwhelmed with gratitude that our baby was still alive. We felt that we were given a chance to truly celebrate this baby in a much different way than our girls. We typically left the gender to be a surprise at birth, but felt led to have maternity pictures taken and find out the gender right away. We were all so surprised to learn we were having a boy! My husband and I would have a son, my girls would have a brother. Followed by the heartbreak and shattered dreams of this little guy running around with his sisters, becoming daddy’s hunting buddy and football player, and mama’s little boy. The reality continued to settle in while we prayed fervently for a miracle.

Despite the overwhelming pain, we were being drawn closer to our heavenly Father than ever before. Scripture and prayer were being poured over us and we felt the presence of God as close as our own breath. We truly felt our Father’s comfort during this time of despair. We went on to name our son Noah, which means “rest” or “comfort” or “trust”. We knew that above all we had to trust in God’s plan and that we would be provided with a comfort and peace that surpasses all human understanding.

Although our plans quickly changed, we were put in touch with a couple who also received a life-limiting diagnosis at their anatomy scan. This new friend put me in touch with a ministry called Abel Speaks who walks along couples who have chosen to carry a child with a life limiting diagnosis. The support we have received from Abel Speaks has truly changed our story. We’ve made instant friends with husbands and wives who have walked this same exact path as we were just beginning to walk down. The fullness of these relationships is hard to explain, but the beauty is that nothing needs to be explained and they understand the depth of the pain.

We have been blown away by the response to our choice to carry Noah to term. The community of believers and prayer warriors surrounding us, baby Noah, and his sisters, has been inspiring. A friend organized a day of prayer and fasting for a small group and it ended up with over 100 participants. People who have never fasted, joined, and had their spiritual life radically transformed. We’ve heard from several friends and family members that Noah’s story brought them back to prayer and a deeper relationship with Christ.

On October 11, Noah decided he wanted to meet his family! He was 35 weeks and 6 days. I was in denial labor for 2 days, not that I didn’t want to meet him, but I realized I wasn’t ready to lose him and the fear was suffocating. When I woke up on the morning of October 11, the labor pains were undeniable so we got ready and went to the hospital. Noah was born at 9:33am and passed into the arms of Jesus shortly after 11:00am. Not only did he get to meet his Mom, Dad, sisters, and grandparents that day, he also got to meet Jesus.

I’d be lying if I said we’re doing ok. We’re not. We want our baby boy here with us more than anything in the world. But as believers, we have hope and that hope is an eternal future with Jesus in Heaven. We know that we will be reunited with our son one day. Until then, we hold the memories close to our heart and will keep his name and legacy alive.

Abel Speaks is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

2001 W Plano Pkwy, Suite 3405 

Plano, TX 75075

(972) 688-6405