The power of prayer in hard times

dana azar

I am 34 years old and a wife of a Physician and stay at home mom to two beautiful children. Originally from another country, I participated heavily with the United Nations, an organization that helps refugees. I first came to the United States two years ago to accompany my husband as he pursued his medical residency and fellowship in Texas. We now reside in West Virginia, where my husband practices medicine.

How it all started…

When I was young, I remember hearing stories of ‘special babies’ who are born early. This was never something that I ever thought would occur in my own life, so I never gave it another thought. Nevertheless, God had other plans for my life, and my experience with preterm labor wouldn’t just happen once, but twice.

 Pregnant with my first baby, in 2013 I had a pretty straightforward beginning to my pregnancy. I was healthy, young, and had no reason for concern. One day, out of the blue, I started bleeding. This continued for two weeks. I had feared that I would lose the baby, but sought for comfort through prayer. After many tears and prayers, I had received my answer. The doctors said that my baby would be significantly smaller in size, which could have been an indicator for down syndrome. Despite the news from the doctors, I sought the Lord, accompanied by my mother. We opened our Bibles, read and prayed, and were filled with heavenly peace and reassurance. Instantly, I knew God had heard my prayer and that my baby boy would be healthy despite the odds.

On May 27, at just 32 weeks, my water broke suddenly in the middle of the night while I was sleeping and a true nightmare began. When at the hospital, I learned that the baby was breach and I would need a C-section. The baby was moving quickly down the birth canal and there was not much time for a natural delivery. After much deliberation between doctors I was placed under general anesthesia and prepared for a C-section; however, prior to the operation, the baby decided to come vaginally. I had no recollection of these events, as my husband had to update me the next day. I truly believe that God had spared me from the pain.

Desirous to see my baby boy, I was informed that I would have to wait, as he was in an incubator with tubes and wires all over. I could not understand all of the medical terminology, his needs and depth of what was going on at the time, which made that time all the more difficult. The doctors and nurses did not explain what was happening and I remember feeling confused and unsure what to do. However, I could provide food for my baby through pumping breast milk. So that is what I did, time and time again.

After 16 grueling days in the NICU, we were finally able to take our baby boy home. I thought the worst was over; however, nothing prepared me for what I would experience after returning home. For months I was unable to sleep. Out of fear, I stayed awake to ensure my baby was breathing, which only led to further exhaustion. The thought of waking up to my baby not breathing was crippling. Our family faced scrutiny from friends, acquaintances and coworkers when my husband returned to work.

In faith, we became pregnant again in 2018. This time, with high expectations that this little one would escape the trials of premature birth. However, our daughter was born at 36 weeks and required 6 days in the NICU before being released from the hospital.

Today, our son, Faris, is a healthy 6-year-old who happens to be the tallest in his class. Our daughter, Kristen a healthy 1-year-old and is as cheeky as can be. We chose strong names for our children, Faris meaning “Knight,” and Kristen meaning “follower of Christ.” Throughout these difficult seasons, I was reminded of Psalm 27:10:

            “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.”

Looking back, I give all of the praise and glory to God for hearing and answering my prayers for two miracles. Additionally, I know without a shadow of a doubt that God had a plan for my life and was gently leading me to become the woman that I am today. All of the trials, the pain, and doubt dissipated as I recalled His goodness and reassurance that I am in good hands. I am reminded of 2 Timothy 4:17 as I share this story:

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”

Dana Azar

How the little bird project will make a difference…

Providing comfort during times of need

v  What did you need specifically in the hospital and not receive?

Ø  Reassurance: I cannot recall at any moment during my stay in the hospital where I connected with the medical staff and felt reassured of mine or my baby’s care.

Ø  Education: Often times, I felt left out when the doctors and nurses would explain mine and my baby’s medical needs. There was a severe lack of understanding of the care that was being done for my family. I found this to be incredibly frustrating. I felt more comfortable for my husband, who is a Physician, to relay the information to me after speaking to the doctors and nurses. As I look back on my experience, I am grateful to have my husband to step in and advocate for my needs and to better translate all of the medical information to me. I imagine that it would be even more frustrating and burdensome if I were a mother without the support I received by my husband.

Ø  Proper Care: Although my needs were cared for, I did find it difficult to communicate to the nurses and staff on the floor my need to be placed in a hospital room closer to the rest of the medical staff. There were multiple times where I had to speak to the medical staff and had to make several trips throughout the day, which I found incredibly difficult in my last few hours of labor and post-delivery.

v  How do you think The Little Bird Project is going to meet some of those needs?

Ø  Through the provision of the baby booties, I believe that The Little Bird Project will provide a level of trust with their recipients, therefore breaking the barrier of communication. Additionally, through the provision of easy-to-read educational material, mothers will have more confidence in caring for their preterm baby when they take them home from the hospital.

v   What do you believe about The Little Bird Project?

Ø  I look forward to the success stories that will be produced through the provision of services by The Little Bird Project. It has inspired me to make a reality my hope to help babies in the NICU through volunteering. The Little Bird Project is an inspiration for mothers of premature babies and the provision of improved health outcomes in hospitals nation wide.