A Miracle Baby

Addy Grace DeMeulenaere’s story began at 26 ½ weeks in the womb.  She woke Holly (mom) up in the middle of the night making it evident that she wanted to come into the world a little early.  Darren and Holly rushed to the hospital and doctors were able to stop the labor. Twenty-eight weeks was the goal to allow more development and to increase Addy’s survival rate.  Grace Church family and many others began praying.  During this time Holly experienced “a peace that far surpasses all understanding”.  As she lay in the hospital bed she could feel God carrying her.   Addy arrived March 24, 2005 at 28 ½ weeks, the first of many miracles. 

Addy was 2 lbs 10½ oz., 15¼ in. long.  It seemed like half of the Neonatal ICU and Labor & Delivery staff was in the room at the time.  Addy was miraculously breathing completely on her own and responding very well.  For the first three days of her stay in the NICU she had no issues and continued to breathe on her own, which is very uncommon.  Most babies born at this gestation have to be on a respirator.  From the beginning, the NICU staff called her “Super girl” and told of how she was such a fighter.  That was Holly and Darren’s prayer, that God would make her a fighter. “Although we may regret it later, we wanted her to fight now,” say the DeMeulenaere’s.  Darren always knew she’d be a warrior for God, he just didn’t know she would start this soon. One nurse told them “Addy knows what she wants and lets us know when she wants it!” To this day she hasn’t changed a bit.  After 8 days she started gaining weight, which is yet another miracle.  The next 2½ months consisted of Holly visiting Addy most of the day and Darren coming in after work to see his little girl. They would then go home in the evening, call the NICU at least once before bed and again when they woke up in the morning to check up on her. The next day the process would start all over again.  Addy skated through her seventy-one day stay with only a few bumps along the way. 

When the blessed day came in June (just nine days before her actual due date) when Holly and Darren were able to take their little girl home, she weighed over 7 lbs—one of the biggest babies there!  Addy is now coming up on her 2-year birthday, and you would never know that she was a preemie.  She loves to make everyone laugh and be the center of attention. 

She is God’s miracle to all of us who know her and we are so grateful for the joy she brings.

“The three of us would have never made it without the support of Grace.  Your prayers, meals, cards, visits, etc. were a constant blessing and encouragement to us.  It’s awesome to truly have a church family with whom you are partnered, to walk along side you!”
–Darren, Holly, Addy DeMeulenaer