Gentle Hands was originally 'born' a birthing clinic ..... by Charity's mother, Denie, a midwife from Canada who moved here with her husband, pastor Dennis, and children - Charity, being the eldest at 17 years old.
Over 5,000 babies have been born at Gentle Hands since it began in the bottom level of Denie and Dennis Heppner's home!!
And its legacy lives on....
I arrived for the birth at 5pm yesterday. With an experienced midwife and Charity (who has delivered many a baby), my role was passive. Phew! Although, I had quietly prepared my resuscitation bag/suction/oxygen ... forever the nurse (prepared and paranoid)!
At 11pm Miss Jaiden Amour was born in the new (not quite complete) medical wing. Perfect and weighing in at 2.9kgs.
What better start for Gentle Hands medical wing than new life!!
An experience to treasure .... pure silence .... pure serenity...... not a sound escaping from the girl in labour. One would never know unless you focused on her face.....and saw the frown that would appear with each contraction.
The room was so peaceful. And in that peace, relationships formed, bonds grew stronger, and the love was tangible ...
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| The Junior Graffs in training! |
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| Charity and Bernadette - prayers and love flowing |
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| It may be taking a little too long for Miss Sarah Joy :) |
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| And then little Jaiden Amour broke the serenity..... |
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| And continued to ..... |
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| ......until wrapped and snuggled |
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| A cuddle for the brave young Mom |
Jaiden Amour shall be cared for by Gentle Hands until she has a 'forever family' - I can only imagine that it was the most heart-wrenching decision this young woman has ever had to make. And I pray, will ever have to make. With one young child to care for already, she knew that she was unable to provide adequately for her new baby girl. She reached out and asked for help.
Courage and humility comes in many different forms.
If you pray .... pray for mom, May, and for her baby girl, Jaiden Amour. For a lifetime of understanding, forgiveness, and abundant love.
