Pray for Emma Grace

[LINK TO AN UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST]

Women are storytellers by nature. We love to share our lives with others, face-to-face over a cup of coffee or all over our social media platforms. Every story is uniquely made up of joys and trials, and as we share, we relate to and learn from those around us. 

I follow people's stories through the blog world and immediately feel a connection to people I've never met, or people who are walking through life situations I haven't experienced myself. I find myself emotionally invested - can anyone else relate?

After reading the blog "Bring the Rain" by Angie Smith, I knew I just had to read her book, "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy." Angie and her husband Todd were 20 weeks pregnant with baby Audrey when they learned of a life-threatening complication. I'll never forget what Angie said when her doctor broke the news and asked, "what are you thinking?"

"I think my Jesus is the same as He was before I walked through that door."

Wow. What a statement. 

It's an amazing book of faith and trust, and I encourage you to pick up a copy. But long story short: Angie and her husband Todd decided to fight for their daughter, and today I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine who is doing the same. 

Candace and I danced together in high school, and she and her husband Justin are the proud parents of cute little Laney {above}. In January, they announced that they were expecting again, another baby girl named Emma Grace, but around the same time they found out the gender, they also received devastating news.

Emma has extra fluid in her lungs, stomach and face, a condition called Hydrops Fetalis. They've visited with several doctors and specialists and have decided to undergo a procedure this week to put a shunt in Emma to drain the fluid. 

Will you join me in praying for sweet Emma Grace? 

The procedure to drain fluid from Emma's lungs is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. this Thursday. Candace goes into the details on her blog about the potential risks and complications, but she and Justin want to do anything they can to give Emma a stronger chance of surviving.

In "I Will Carry You," Angie said, "we don't know if God is going to make her better or not, but we will keep believing that He can." We know that our God is the ultimate Healer and we pray with faith that He'll work a miracle for the Schwartz family.

Follow their journey on Candace's blog, For the love of Emma Grace. Thank you for your prayers!

UPDATE!! The procedure went so well, and Emma is a little fighter!