Patience, Persistence and Prayers
In September 2000, my husband, Chris, and I started trying to have a baby. After a year passed with no success, we had all the tests run to make sure no physical problems were preventing me from getting pregnant. Infertility issues can be so emotional and personal, and I remember how even having the tests run and waiting for the results was emotionally draining. Fortunately, we received a clean bill of health.
Finally, in November 2002, I found out I was pregnant. Immediately attached emotionally to the new life growing inside me, I found myself excited and scared at the same time. I began dreaming about shopping for maternity clothes and preparing the baby’s room. My husband started thinking about money and saving for college! However, at 10 weeks when we went to hear the heartbeat, we received bad news. The baby had stopped growing at 7 weeks. At that exact moment of heartbreak and devastation, I also remember feeling an overwhelming sense of peace from God. The sense of loss was still so difficult to explain--even to family and friends—and there was no funeral or ceremony to give real closure and help us through the grieving process.
After the failure of that pregnancy and no success for more than another year, my husband and I decided to see an infertility specialist. A couple of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) procedures resulted in a tubal pregnancy in March 2004. Even though the infertility specialist and staff were excellent, we decided to forego further procedures. In February 2005, I conceived a third time. But the doctor found no fetus in the yolk sack. In the midst of this we also considered adopting, but ultimately decided to keep trying for our own pregnancy.
Each time we experienced a failed pregnancy, family and friends comforted us with cards, flowers, food and prayer. We couldn’t have gotten through the tough times without them. Most of all, our faith in God sustained us. Chris and I attend the non-denominational Antioch Church, just off I-35. Without fail, the first Sunday back in church after a miscarriage, we would sing “How Great is Our God.” I felt as if God was personally comforting us every time I heard the song and was telling me He was in control.
The due date of a failed pregnancy can be an extremely difficult day for anyone who has experienced a miscarriage. But Oct. 18, 2005, the due date of my third pregnancy, became a day of rejoicing for me. I learned that day I was expecting our beautiful son, Brayden. In calculating the days back, we discovered he was conceived on our wedding anniversary. God's timing was perfect even though we had walked a difficult road. I will never forget the joy and emotion we felt when the doctor said, “I see a heartbeat.” We had longed and waited for those words. Our dream was coming true. Born June 23, 2006, our son changed our world forever. I am so thankful that even after three failed pregnancies, we kept trying and did not give up. The pain was worth it in the end because of the gift of life.
During my pregnancy that year, on both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we sang “How Great is Our God" at church. This time it was as if God were celebrating with us. We sang the same song again on the day of Brayden’s dedication at church. Our music director, Kevin Seaton, always prays then chooses the songs for a service ahead of time. He had no idea until later what a tremendous impact this song had had on us and how the timing of each singing was perfect.
We chose to put some of the words from “How Great is Our God” (now our family song!) on our son's bedroom walls. We sing the chorus every night to him at bedtime and Brayden is now old enough that he sings with us. I tell my son often that he is a miracle baby. It is so sweet to hear his little voice repeat, "Miracle baby..." God’s timing is perfect even when it’s difficult. Miracles still happen. Our baby boy is proof of that in our lives. We pray this story touches others who are struggling with infertility or have had a miscarriage.
Chris, Debbie and Brayden Woody reside in Overland Park. Chris sells insurance and Debbie is a stay-at-home and work-at-home mom who handles immigration on a part-time basis and Brayden full time.