| During our use of the programme
the patience and perseverance of my wife was needed but we continued
to follow the NFP procedures and for us we were to be blessed with
what we had sought and Dominic was born in September 2003. I say
blessed because, to us, children are not commodities for trading
nor are they something we deserve as a right. Every step of the
way the team at Life were very supportive and, for us, we have chosen
to remain friends with the.
Very early on in Eileen's pregnancy we were
advised that the child we were expecting could have 'Downs Syndrome'.
It had been identified that Eileen's records suggested a strong
chance of this. Like any parent this was not news we wanted to
hear. But after the initial shock we placed ourselves in the hands
of god. To us this information was of great support because it
then allowed us to prepare for this likelihood and we also received
great support from the medical team supporting us at this time.
A beautiful moment occurred during a scan, towards the end of
the pregnancy, when we were involved in the hospital's trial of
the 4D scanner. We clearly saw a definite ‘human’ image
of our son being broadcast and in a brief moment this child raised
his fist and gave us the 'thumbs up'.
My wife has always been active in our church
and has regularly visited Lourdes in France on pilgrimage. In
2005, as a family, we returned to Lourdes in thanksgiving and,
as Mary, presenting our Son at the 'temple' to the Lord in 'this
place'. Dominic's presence seemed to encourage those who choose
to work voluntarily here and to entertain the sick. Today he seems
to be a 'healthy' child much loved by his family and community.
His initial health was however challenging but again we have experienced
the love of the Lord at these times when he must have surely carried
us through by those he sent to help us.
The loss of Gabrielle was the loss of hope and
expectation that all parents must experience as they 'plan' their
future. Today, every day is like a birthday. Our joy is to wake
up with Dominic and after a day at work to return home to see
him and witness his development. "
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