My husband gifted me The Giving Keys Strength bracelet when we found out we were having our second baby. The transition to motherhood was difficult for me. My husband wanted to remind me that he saw so much strength in me when I became a mother, and he will continue to pray for strength as the second baby arrives.
I am now gifting my strength bracelet to one of the most amazing mothers I know. My friend Sarah found out she was having twins and was thrilled. Her entire life she wanted nothing more than to be a mom. However, various complications led her to deliver her two precious boys, Jude and Oliver, at 27 weeks! During the delivery, Sarah almost lost her own life. Both boys were rushed to the NICU. They weighed only two pounds and had to fight for their lives. Oliver suffered a category 4 brain bleed and had to have a shunt placed into his brain. After eighty-six days in the NICU, both boys got to come home. However, home life involves frequent trips to the ER, hours of therapy, and a long, hard journey! My friend Sarah is amazing. She has done the impossible. When most people meet Oliver, they think he is fed through feeding tubes. Sarah has successfully nursed both boys and continues to do so well into their second year of life. Sarah spends hours caring and loving her sons. She is filled with so much joy and encourages me in my motherhood. She has given up so much to provide the best life for her boys. Sarah is constantly at doctor's appointments and wonders if Oliver will ever be able to walk or talk. However, she does not let this stop her from trying. She loves her boys and prays every day that they can experience the fullest life. She does all this on a limited budget and still helping her husband pursue his dreams of music. She has more strength than anyone I have ever met. She is a role model to me. I wish I could take some of her burdens and lighten her load. I want her to know that she is loved, admired, and prayed for. She has a profound strength in Jesus, which is what gets her through!
-Lauren
