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butterflyinthespring 2015/01/23
In Chinese families, the desire to have a son is very strongto pass on the family name, began Glenn Yu. He and his wife,
Jackie, already had two daughters. After five years without any further pregnancies, they were motivated to have another child
and prayed for a baby boy; however, Jackie developed endometriosis and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). The couple shared
their faith story with Butterflyinthespring
Jackie Ching Yu (JCY): During that time, you can say that we went ahead of God with fertility pills. So we got pregnant; we
were excited. Because we wanted a boy, we were already thinking of a name for a boy but we couldnt come up with any. On
Valentines Day 2009, we learned she was a girl. We had a name right away. I wanted Faith.
Glenn L. Yu (GLY): I wanted the name Valerie. The root word is valor or strong. We put the two names together: Valerie Faith.
We made a video for her. I told her We want you to grow up recognizing that you are a gift from The Lord to us. We want you to
have strong faith.
JCY: Everything went well. But on the twenty-second week, I did not feel any movement. I went to the hospital. The ultrasound
doctor told me to see my obstetrician right away. She said the baby had ascites, (fluid in the abdomen). I went to see my doctor.
The baby had a heartbeat but was not moving. She could not explain. She suggested I go to Singapore for a second opinion. In
Singapore, I was told that there was damage to her brain and if she makes it to full term, she will be severely disabled. I was
told, You have a choice to terminate the pregnancy or go home and wait until full term.
GLY: We had waited so long for this baby and now we were told about the option to terminate. Nanlambot ako (I weakened at
the knees). It was devastating For the first twenty-weeks she was fine. We didnt understand why that happened. We decided
to wait. It started to sink in that maybe it was the Lord who placed in our hearts to name her Strong Faith not for her but for us
to have strong faith.
JCY: : I was thinking about the kind of life she would have if she survived this. I was also concerned about my older children
who will share the burden of taking care of their severely disabled sister for the rest of their lives. But we decided if this is what
God is giving us, we will take care of her. At twenty-four weeks (six months), my water broke. She survived for 52 minutes and
then she died.
GLY: The song we listened to a lot then was Be Still (For the Presence of the Lord). We kept reading
Psalm 139. 13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mothers womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
JCY: Those verses made us realize it was not an accident that she was born that way or that her life was short.
GLY: She already lived according to Gods purpose because she taught us to have not just faith in the Lord but strong faith in the
Lord. During that time, I could not imagine how we could have gone through it without strong faith holding on to the promises of
God.
JCY: She lived up to her name. We had a memorial for her. We were able to share with the people who were there her life and
our hope in God.
BUTTERFLYINTHESPRING (BITS): I was there
GLY: Yes At that time, we had no way of knowing if we would have any more children but we were at peace. If Valerie were to
be our last child, we were already fine with that. The Lord blessed us with three kids and one went ahead. Praise God for that.
What one would normally think as a grieving traumatic experience, despite us losing a child, became a blessing for us. Now, we
wouldnt exchange that for anything. Thats our story of faith.
BITS: You expressed the strong desire in a Chinese family to have a boy. How did your heart change?
GLY: We surrendered to the Lord. To have a son to pass on the family name was one of the things I did not surrender to the Lord.
I felt the Lord rebuke me that I was being presumptuous not wanting His will but my own personal desire. I was reminded of His
word, I am The Lord, your God Be still and know that I am God.
JCY: I felt we were not faithful enough to wait for Him. Maybe my body was not ready for a pregnancy. I felt what happened was