allegannews

By Ramona Leiter
Correspondent

   Take one look at little Becky Groenheide of Hamilton, - the twinkle in her eyes, the warmth of her smile. Watch as she plays dolls with her older sister, Jessi. At first there is little reason to guess that just three years ago, Becky held on to such a small chance of survival that doctors said only a miracle would save her.
   Becky brings out one of her dolls to show off. It is a handmade, custom doll, designed to look and weigh the same as Becky did when she was born three months premature on January 4, 1998. Becky's mom, Sara, notes, "The doll weighs 2 1/2 pounds." Only now does one realize that there is a special story behind this special little girl.
   Sara Groenheide's first pregnancy went fine, and she delivered Jessi (now 5) without any complications. So when she became pregnant with her and her husband, Mark's, second child, there was no reason for them to fear anything would go wrong. But after only 22 weeks of gestation (4 1/2 months), Sara's water broke. She was informed that the main critical care hospital in the area for premature births in Grand Rapids would only accept patients at least 23 weeks along toward birth.
   Now instead of being at home and preparing for a joyous birth to come, the Groenheides were at Holland Hospital preparing for a funeral that seemed imminent. The couple received much prayer and support during this time. At one point during this week of waiting, two ministers, a family friend and the Groenheides were in Sara's hospital room praying, and Sara relates, "We all felt the presence of God...very peaceful, calm, reassuring." They felt that God was letting them know that whether the baby lived or died, God would be with them.
   Sara remained at the Holland Hospital for 11 days, and then went home for a week. When the Grand Rapids hospital, Spectrum, would accept her case, Sara stayed there for three weeks. During this time, Sara's water kept leaking, but her body produced enough to keep the baby inside safe. The unborn baby was monitored two times a day, until one point when her heart rate dropped significantly and an emergency C-section was performed.
   Becky Groenheide was born into the world with lungs damaged from lack of water. She was put on a ventilator. Two days later she was moved to a special ventilator because her air sacs had burst. This ventilator literally vibrated her lungs with 420 breaths a minute to help the healing process.
   Just a week after her birth, Becky's parents were again told that nothing could be done for their daughter. The lung damage was so severe that the equipment wasn't helping. Again it would take a miracle for Becky to live.
      Mark and Sara prayed. They invited all their family to come see Becky at the hospital while she was still alive.
   But a quiet miracle was keeping little Becky alive and growing with slow but sure improvement. After 10 weeks at Spectrum's neonatal intensive care unit, the baby had met the criteria to be released. At 4 1/2 pounds, 16 inches in length, Becky Groenheide went home with her older sister and parents.
   Becky continues to carry the legacy of a premature birth - she suffered mild, permanent brain damage and is diagnosed with a mild form of cerebral palsy. Her mom takes her to therapy twice a week, and she needs a walker to help her get around. But Becky does attend regular preschool at Holland Christian School and is a daily reminder to her mom of the peace of God - which is what Sara calls the book she has published about the experience.
   "The Peace of God" grew out of a journal that Sara constructed, first for her other daughter, Jessi when it looked as if Becky wouldn't survive, then as a chronicle for both daughters when Becky was 10 months old. At first intermittent written or taped entries went into the journal. Then, after the fact, Sara went back over the medical records and charts and wrote down her thoughts about the whole experience.
   The Groenheide's minister, who was studying for a doctorate, asked permission to use a prayer from their family's experience for an example. Sara mentioned her journal. After the minister read the work, he encouraged Sara to have it published - convinced it would be of help to others.
   Originally Sara copied and bound the books herself to be sold at Baker Book House in Holland and at a Hamilton area grocery store. After selling 200 copies the first year, Sara paid to have "The Peace of God" professionally published. She said, "The book is a work of God. There is no way I would have finished it myself."
   Writing proved to be therapeutic, but grew out of motivation to help others.
   "One person who had not experienced a preemie birth, sent me a letter saying that it helped them with their daily walk," Sara said, and right now she is providing encouragement over the phone to someone going through a premature birth.
   Now with both her little girls playing happily before her, Sara said of the experience of Becky's birth, "It has brought us closer to God. We don't take anything for granted."