Fighting for Elsie: The Lifelong Battle for Our Children

My husband, Tim, and I had just sat down at a restaurant for lunch when my phone rang. It was one of those phone calls that makes the world stop.

“Mom, my water broke.” It was our oldest daughter, Taylor. Her voice was trembling, and her words knocked the breath out of me. Her baby, our first grandchild, wasn’t due for nearly eight more weeks. All I could pray in that moment was “Jesus, no.”

I immediately went into response mode, “We’re on our way.” Taylor and her husband live almost six hours away. As we drove, we stayed on the phone with her until she got to the emergency room. We talked, prayed, even laughed a little. What else can you do but trust in God and take each step as it comes.

Then there was radio silence. She and her husband were in the emergency room while we drove. I’m good in response mode, I’m useful…but this waiting—this helplessness—is the hardest part.

It was the longest trip of our lives but eventually we arrived at the hospital where the doctor’s plan was to give our precious baby Elsie more time to develop. The risk of infection meant she was definitely coming early.

Taylor was so brave, and the days crept by until it was time to induce labor. Elsie would be six weeks early, a milestone of development that the doctors were happy to reach but the battle was not over.

Taylor’s labor didn’t progress very quickly, and Elsie’s heartrate began to drop dramatically. In a flurry of activity, the decision was made to do an emergency C-section. I just had time to pray with them, then both my babies were rushed out of the room.

Silence once again. And waiting. My husband and I clung to each other and again began asking our family and friends to pray. Should a C-section take this long? What is happening?

There was a battle raging for the life of our little one. A much greater fight than we could possibly realize.

Then it happened. Our son-in-law, Keith, came into the room. “She’s here. They’re okay.” Relief swept over us and the tears finally flowed. But when Keith began to tell us the whole story, we got a glimpse into how amazing Elsie’s birth really was.

Immediately after her delivery, the doctor held up a shredded umbilical cord containing a huge blood clot. Her words were, “I don’t know how this baby survived.” Sometime during the pregnancy an umbilical thrombosis had developed. The doctor called our little Elsie “a miracle”. She explained that without the early delivery, if Taylor’s water had not broken, we would have lost Elsie and possibly Taylor as well.

My mind immediately went back to that phone call and my first desperate prayer, “Jesus, no.” I am so very grateful that God’s ways are higher than mine—that He didn’t answer that prayer. That thing that was my greatest fear at the time was the very thing He used to save both our girls’ lives.

There is a battle raging for our children—all of our children. A battle for their safety, for their attention, against addiction and hopelessness. We fight for their lives, for their very souls. But we do not fight alone or in our own power, and our weapons are powerful.

Perhaps you haven’t seen your miracle yet, or your story has been one of heartbreak. We don’t understand all things, but we do know that control is an illusion—so release it and refuse to give up. Our weapons are prayer, God’s Word, and faith. They don’t guarantee a particular outcome, instead they move the heavens into action. And we can trust in that without fail.

As I write this, our little miracle just turned one year old and the joy of our lives. We will continue fighting for Elsie for years to come. You see, as parents, the war for our children is ongoing—throughout their childhood, into adulthood, through joy and heartbreak, and then suddenly, you’re a grandparent. You continue to pray, speak truth over them, be their greatest advocate, and give them wholly to God who loves them even more than you do.

Promises for Parents

Confessions from God’s Word:

Romans 8:26: The Spirit helps me in my weakness. I do not know what I ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for me through wordless groans.

Isaiah 59:21: God’s Spirit is upon me, and His words are always in my mouth and in the mouths of my children.

Isaiah 54:13: All my children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace.

Matthew 6:33-34: I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given me as well. Therefore, I do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Proverbs 22:6: Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they shall not turn from it.

Lamentations 3:22-23: Because of the Lord’s great love I am not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Galatians 6:9: Let me not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time I will reap a harvest if I do not give up.

Philippians 4:6-7: I am not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I present my requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 44:3: God pours out His Spirit and blessings upon my children.

Psalm 91:10-11: No harm will overtake me and no disaster will come near my tent. For He will command His angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways.

Colossians 3:12: I clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I forgive. And above all I put on love which binds them all together in unity.

1 Corinthians 13: I have the love of Christ in me, therefore I am patient and kind. I am not proud, I do not envy or boast, and I keep no record of wrongs. I protect, trust, hope and persevere.