She sat across from me at abortion counseling last August, HIV+, raising 3 children, and now 3 months pregnant with a child not her estranges husband's. By all accounts there was no reason for her to choose life for this baby. But she did. As I explained how with the proper treatment and precautions her baby could be born negative, her countenance changed. As she began to think through and list resources and family support available her hopes rose. Together we made a plan for HIV and pregnancy support, scheduled follow-up, prayed together, and she left having not 1 but 2 lives changed.
I didn't hear from her for months…
In January she called me, not willing to discuss things on the phone but asking to meet. She arrived hugely pregnant and very emotional. In the time which had elapsed her babies father had passed away and with him a huge source of support, leaving her desperate for help and options. We sat and grieved together, asking the Father for wisdom, comfort, and direction. As I explained the options she listened with a quiet calm, and then asked for help making an adoption plan. This is an option very seldom chosen by Xhosa women, especially when you explain that it is forever and you will most likely never see the child again. But regardless of the details and her understanding of the difficulties and sacrifice, she wanted to give her child every opportunity for life abundant with a family who could give this to him.
For 2 months she stayed in touch, checking in and asking questions, calling just to say how she was doing. Then as March came and went she dropped of the grid once more. Finally in April she answered a phone call, to say she had given birth and decided to keep her baby boy. But she was doing well, following the appropriate procedures to prevent his infection with HIV, and said though circumstances were challenging she thought they would all be fine and had sufficient support.
The call came two weeks ago…
I went to meet her and was presented with a beautiful baby boy, 2 months old, strong and healthy with one of the thickest heads of hair I'd ever seen, and his recent test revealed him to be HIV-! But our mutual joy in his life was dampened by the fact that she was not coping. The support she thought she could get by on was insufficient, and caring for yet another child was a greater challenge than expected. She asked that I take him to be placed for adoption. We talked and prayed, she took the weekend to think and be sure, then I made arrangements with the social worker and baby home before fetching him for the night to take him the following morning.
As I gathered around him with my roommate Nicole and my fellow team member Elmien, we anointed him and prayed over his life and destiny. While we prayed I felt the LORD give me the name Isaac as a promise over his life; he is a child born out of impossible circumstances just as the son of Abraham, and with the name meaning "laughter" I felt the LORD laughed over his life, and had much laughter in store for him.
I cannot begin to express my feelings in caring for him that night. In every sense he was a miracle, there being so many reasons he should not even be alive! He should have been aborted 9 months ago, but here he is. He could be infected with the death sentence of HIV/AIDS, but he is healthy and whole! As I held him in my arms I was overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the extent the Father will go to to rescue His children, and the honor that He would use me in any small way.
My little "Isaac" is now at the baby house awaiting the adoption process. His mom has signed the papers and is doing well. I continue to stay connected with and pray over both of them, and the incredible destiny the Father has for them each. "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." ~John 10:10
