Rosemary Macri was eight months pregnant when the baby suddenly showed signs of heart distress. “Will my baby be all right?” she asked, as she lay in New York Hospital’s maternity ward, hooked up to machines she could barely comprehend. “We’ll do the best we can,” responded the doctor. “But I have to be honest with you – there is only so much we can do.” A legion of doctors and nurses kept vigil over the fetus during the next twenty-four hours. But despite their efforts, the baby’s condition worsened. The doctors made a decision to induce labor. Shortly thereafter, Rosemary gave birth to a baby boy.

For what seemed like an eternity, Rosemary lay waiting for her child’s prognosis. She watched the nurses come and go from their stations. She heard the sound of technology and monitors. She smelled disinfectant. Finally, overcome with weariness and numb with shock, she fell into a deep sleep. As Rosemary slept, the staff was very concerned about the poor prognosis of Rosemary’s baby. They knew all too well the grave odds against the newborn’s survival. A nurse called in the priest. “The mother is fast asleep,” the priest said, “and it is my belief that given the circumstances, the child should be baptized.” Right there and then, the child was baptized.

All the while, Rosemary slumbered peacefully. In her dreams, a vision of her late uncle, Patrick, appeared. “Don’t worry, Rosemary” the calming voice said, “your baby will be well. All will be fine.” Just as the emergency baptism came to an end, Rosemary awoke from her deep state of slumber. The dream about her uncle, and the soothing words he had spoken had made her feel comforted. But now her own heart froze with terror when she saw the priest. He must have known, for he spoke quickly. “My dear,” he said, “hold on to hope. The situation had been so precarious we baptized the baby and named him Patrick.” Rosemary gasped!

She was just opening her mouth to speak to the priest to tell him about her dream when one of the doctors entered the room, hastily. The priest and Rosemary looked at him, pleadingly. “Your son will be just fine,” said the doctor with a smile as wide as the day is long.

Offered by Rosemary Macri

Comment:
People who hope often have their prayers answered in ways unimaginable. The doctors and the nurses could offer little hope for the survival of Rosemary’s baby, but they did their best, and did not turn their backs on Rosemary and the sickly infant in her womb. Rosemary did not lose hope; she would not abort the child in her womb.

Imagine her reaction when she was told: “Your son will be just fine.”

Fr. Hugh Duffy