Andrew Lee Whitten - March 13, 2009 - July 1, 2009 Our Miracle Baby Is Truely A Blessing!

How is it that a little baby, who only spent 111 days on this Earth, can make such a huge impact in the lives of so many adults?

Back when my friend Heather, Andrew's mom, was pregnant, she and her husband Jim were told that Andrew would not survive, he had a hole in his diaphram and other issues and it was best they terminate the pregnancy. I know as a parent, those are some harsh words to come from a doctor. Heather and Jim decided it was going to be up to God whether their baby was going to survive - it was not going to be up to the doctors.

So Heather and Jim went along with the pregnancy. Heather was sick the whole time. The doctors kept telling her the baby, who by now they knew was a boy, probably would not survive being born.

On Friday the 13th of March, Andrew Lee Whitten arrived in this world 5 weeks early! He defied the odds that the doctors had given him and survived being born. The little guy was on a ventilator, but he was alive and absolutely adorable!

That week was stressful at the hospital. The doctors didn't seem to want to get Andrew the care he needed. They insisted he wouldn't survive. Heather and Jim tried to get Andrew flown to Florida where there was a doctor who was pretty confident he could save Andrew. After a few days it was determined Andrew would never make it to the medical helicopter let alone all the way to Florida in a helicopter. So the doctors here in SC, who had never done the type of surgery Andrew needed, decided to go ahead and try. He had a 2% chance of making it. The anesthesiologist told Heather and Jim he had a 0% chance, and he thought it was awful they would put him through that surgery! Can you believe it! Once again, Heather and Jim went to bat for Andrew - they were his parents, and they wanted him to have every chance he could.

Again, Andrew defied the odds, and survived that surgery! The doctors and nurses were amazed. This little baby started getting a little better. He eventually got strong enough to have the heart surgery he needed. And in time, Andrew was growing and getting better and slowly weening off the ventilator.

Heather started making plans for his nursury. We went to pick out baby stuff for him, and she even registered. Andrew was growing, he was opening his eyes and smiling and his adorable personality was starting to come out. He even got to play in the bouncy seat! We were all excited, because Andrew, our Miracle Baby - as we call him, was probably going to go home around August.

Then all of a sudden his heart stopped! What happened? The doctors were able to bring him back. They had to put him back on the ventilator. And then it was determined that Andrew had developed a lung condition from being on the ventilator so long. The only way to save him was to remove a portion of his lung. But Andrew was so weak. He had to get strong in order to undergo the surgery that would save him.

Sunday evening, Heather said "she knew". Andrew felt like a rag doll. Heather knew something was wrong, and that it wasn't good. Her fears were confirmed Monday on doctor's rounds. "This is it", Jim texted my husband.

Immediately I went down to the hospital. There sat Jim, with his beautiful baby son in his arms. I don't think I've ever seen a grown man cry like that. Jim wanted one more day with Andrew. One more day to hold him, to love him, to kiss him.

On Tuesday evening, Baby Andrew died in his parents arms which were so filled with love for him. His parents passed him right into the arms of God who has even more love for him than any of us can imagine.

Andrew defied all his odds for a long time. This child proved to doctors that things beyond their medical control happens. Many of the doctors could not explain why Andrew was able to be with us for 111 days. It was purely God who wanted Andrew with us for 111 days.

This baby changed people's perspectives and brought more people to God in 3 1/2 months than most adults do in a lifetime. The most amazing of which is his father, Jim, found the Lord through all this and became a Christian. Amazing! This child came to earth and SAVED his father. As Heather says, "Andrew was able to do something in 3 1/2 months that she could not accomplish in over 15 years!"

Below is the poem Andrew's sister wrote for him a few weeks ago:

" He is My Brother" By: Deanna Whitten

His name is Andrew.
He is my brother.

He was born five weeks early.
His is my brother.

He has wires and tubes coming from everywhere.
He is my brother.

His skin is so soft as I hold his tiny hand.
He is my brother.

His room always smells so clean. It has to.
He is my brother.

His machines, with quiet tones, help him breath.
He is my brother.

His skin tastes sweet as I give him tiny kisses.
He is my brother.

His name is Andrew.
He is my brother.

Andrew's memorial service will be Sat., July 11. Please keep the Whitten family in your hearts and prayers.