On Monday the 15th of December we were very excited as today was going to be the day that Gert and Jolandie will go for the fetal assessment. I couldn’t wait! I was busy working in Johannesburg and told everyone there that the next message from my kids will be to inform me whether I am going to be the “ouma” of a little boy or a little girl!

I received a very positive but in the same time very disturbing message from Jolandie at 3pm and my heart missed several beats. Hernia? Intestines on the outside? How is that even possible? What does that mean? How come I have never heard about that?

I sat at my desk holding my head and staring at the message on my screen… waiting to wake up from a very bad dream. When this did not happen I got into my car, drove home to pick up a few things two hours later I arrived at Gert and Jolandie’s home in Modimolle. I just needed to hold my children and to try and take their pain away.

I will never forget those few first seconds or the look on their faces. They tried to smile bravely but despair and confusion was written all over their faces. We just held each other and cried and cried. When I started asking questions I soon realised that they also knew very little. What they vividly remember from what the fetal specialist told them was that she would have terminated the pregnancy if it was her decision – even though the baby was perfectly fine otherwise. That was the moment when my heart missed many more beats… However, the report from the doctor also stated that, should they decide to continue with this pregnancy, Dr Martin van Niekerk should be the doctor to treat the baby.

We are a google family. The logical next step was to take out the iPads and start reading up on this huge word: GASTROSCHISIS. I soon realised that, if we needed hope, google was not the place to find it fast. We were bombarded with the most graphic images of babies with their intestines all over their little bodies. How could you even hold a baby when it looks like that? How are they going to get it back into the body? What if… what if…??!! A million questions arose and very few answers came about.

We also God-fearing re-born Christians. But… why did God allow this to happen? Why OUR precious baby? Or why not allow this with a baby that nobody wants? Why allow this to happen to these two precious people? His children? Why… why… why? Where can we find someone to talk to that has been through this?

I have learnt in life that bad things DO happen to good people and that the one thing we all need to carry on living is hope! But how? Where will we find this hope in the real world that we are living in? The Bible has nothing on Gastroschisis. But the Bible has a lot on God’s grace. On how He came to heal the sick. How He can take away the pain and restore hope again. But HOW?

While we were sitting there still wishing that we can wake up from this dream, God started working in many hearts and during the course of the next week, the plan unfolded…

Later that evening Gert & Jolandie’s gynaecologist called from Pretoria. He has received the report from the fetal specialist and wanted to know how they were doing. He also offered to see them on his first day back from holiday to discuss the processes to follow. This was such uncommon behaviour from a new doctor and it showed that he really cares! Early the next morning Jolandie phoned her personal GP that she has a very close relationship with. He urged them to just stay calm and not to make any rush decisions.

When I left later that morning, the initial shock was gone and I knew we now have to find that hope! Gert and Jolandie both needed to talk to people with experience and little did I know at that sad point how God was going to let that happen.

On Wednesday I was back at work in Johannesburg. Good friends of mine came for eye tests that day and while we were talking, they asked about the pregnancy (they have recently became grandparents too!). When I used the word “Gastroschisis” they immediately knew what that was which came as a huge surprise. I was by now ready to explain in my own way what that was as nobody in my frame of reference has ever heard it this condition. But they knew! And they knew because Elize’s sister had a baby with Gastroschisis 7 years ago! What’s more, this little boy is fit and healthy and lives about 10 kilometres from my home!

This was when I experienced the first glimpse of hope! After a few phone calls we arranged for Gert and Jolandie to meet with Belinda and Ricky and young Richard the following Monday. Belinda was excited to assist in the giving-hope process and started sending pictures and videos of Richard clearly showing that, apart from the little scar on his body, he was a normal, healthy and very active young man! The doctor that performed the surgery was Dr Martin van Niekerk!

Our prayers has been answered. Jolandie and Gert needed real-life people to talk to and here they arrived on my doorstep so to speak. I have known Carl and Elize for many years now and nevver discussed the drama their family went through 8 years ago. We were sitting with hope in our circle of friends without knowing it. God timed it perfectly and I started smiling again.

On Thursday evening I received messages from another friend of mine – Linda. She heard about the baby and wanted to talk to me. I did not feel like talking about this over the phone but she persisted as she had good news. But… I have to take this back two weeks when Linda came to have her eyes tested at the business in Johannesburg. Her sister came with her and while Linda was busy with her test, Laura (whom I have met before but never talked to) and I started talking and I convinced her to also have her eyes tested – even if just to look at the health of the eyes. She agreed and a few minutes later she called me to have a look at her fundus photos as they detected a problem with her macula and she had to be referred to a specialist. (God’s good timing again.)

When Linda told her sister about the baby, Laura mentioned that the “best Gastroschisis doctor in the world” is a member of their home cell. His name is Martin van Niekerk! That was the good news. Laura had spoken to the doctor’s wife and he offered to see them on his first day back from holiday – 5 January.

After the phone call with Linda, I phoned Gert and Jolandie and said I would like to talk to both of them on speaker phone as I have great news and wanted to tell them how God is building the puzzle of hope for all of us.

My hope is back in full swing. Our little grandchild-to-be has received two gifts for Christmas – one in case it’s a girl and one in case it’s a boy! I watched a great video on Gastroschisis and I now understand the process to follow.

But most of all I understand that no matter what, God is always in control! He is the only one that can restore hope and inner peace…

Phil 4: 6-7:

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Tomorrow is the 5th of January and I cannot wait to hear whether it’s a boy or a girl!