Here is the continuing journey of Peter and Chelsea Fanchi, parents of 2 young children and expecting their third, nicknamed Heavy, who will not live long after birth (see my last blog). We can journey with them through prayer, and learn from them as they learn to walk their dark valley with Jesus. Chelsea wrote the following and sent it to us September 6^th:

Today was a really rough emotional day. I haven’t had one of these days since June. A WHOLE LOT OF TEARS! Everything made me sad. I pouted like a little kid. I didn’t want to be with people. I really don’t feel like I want to go through with the next few weeks.

I am afraid.

Afraid of the unknown. Afraid of being sad for a long time. Afraid of taking a whole lifetime of love and packing it into a few precious moments. Afraid of the afterward.

Peter with tears filling his eyes, gently, in his most loving way, reminded me that when Peter or Maria are in pain, or sad, our desire is to hold them until the hurt has stopped, and what a wonderful opportunity we have to do that with Heavy.

Somehow, in my emotional messiness that helped my tears to slow down and to not be quite so afraid. The future is always a bit scary, but I can get my head around moments of holding our child until they no longer hurt and then continuing to hold them.

I even think that it is a blessing that we have the opportunity to be the ones who are with our child as his breath returns back to God (Ecclesiasts 12), the One who breaths life into us all.

In the midst of our fears, we KNOW that we are not alone. This summer I had the opportunity to volunteer at Peter’s VBS at church. One of the nights a leader got dressed up at the disciple Peter and in character shared about the step of faith it took to walk to Jesus in the stormy water. The leader, could have been speaking only to me, said, you just keep you eyes only on Jesus and step, then step, then step.

That night at VBS as the elementary kids were watching the leader finish his silly Peter character skit, I was fighting back tears. Knowing that we, as God’s children, whom he fiercely loves are never forgotten.

Please pray for us as we wait and prepare for Heavy’s arrival. We are 3 ½ official weeks away and counting. (Due September 27)

On Monday August 30^th, we had our ultrasound. Dr. Landers confirmed that Heavy does have a heart defect, one that is in fact operable, but not in his case due to all of his other health complications.

We also found out that our little guy was still breech, but, we have a ROCK STAR perinatologist who flipped Heavy manually (also called, version). It kind of tickled and was really cool for Peter to see Heavy float across my belly. My abdomen felt pretty beat up the following day, but I wouldn’t trade that for a cesarean any day!

Please pray that Heavy will stay head down!

Since our last update we also completed our birth and life plan. It was strange getting in writing what we wanted and did not want for our son’s life on Earth.

Please thank God with us that we feel confident and secure with our document. We know that God has helped us to create a peaceful plan for Heavy.

With Love,

The Fanchi Family