In 2016, a young family faced a heart-wrenching dilemma when doctors delivered devastating news: their unborn baby had multiple abnormalities, and two doctors strongly recommended terminating the pregnancy. Amidst the turmoil, grandparents Marissa and Loren refused to succumb to despair. They turned to St. Arethas and Companions, saints they had come to revere during their stay in the Gulf. Embarking on a fervent novena, they prayed against all odds for a miracle to save their future grandchild.
Marissa and Loren had been devoted to St. Arethas and Companions since first learning about the holy martyrs. The couple held onto hope, believing that the saints, who had endured immense suffering, would intercede for their precious grandchild during this critical time.
The family’s faith was already being tested by their recent relocation to Australia. This unsettling news added layers of uncertainty to an already challenging situation. Yet, in unwavering unity, Ryan and Charen, the young parents, joined Marissa and Loren in fervent prayer. Trusting in God’s mercy and promise, they decided to carry the baby to full term despite the medical advice to the contrary. Their collective hopes culminated on the day of delivery when the baby defied all expectations, entering the world healthy and whole.
In profound gratitude for this answered prayer, the family joyously baptized their miracle child Aretha, honoring the saint whose intercession had brought about this miraculous outcome. For Marissa and Loren, every smile and milestone Aretha reaches serves as a poignant reminder of St. Arethas’ powerful intercession and the boundless grace of God.
Today, eight years since that miraculous day, Aretha continues to thrive as a vibrant, healthy, and beautiful young girl. Her life stands as a living testament to the transformative power of faith and the tangible miracles that unfold through unwavering prayer. Each passing year, as Aretha grows older, her story inspires others, affirming that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, miracles are not only possible but real.
Through the steadfast love and unwavering faith of her grandparents, Marissa and Loren, and her parents, Ryan and Charen, Aretha’s journey from a daunting prognosis to a thriving child resonates as a powerful narrative of faith, hope, and the enduring power of prayer.
In photos: Aretha today at eight, pretty, bubbly, and enjoying her growing up years with her two older sisters and parents, showing no signs of physical handicap—a living miracle.
(This article was posted with the permission of the family.)
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