Keystone Stories – The Snyder’s
Our son’s birth on September 20, 2020, was the beginning of the biggest trial our family has faced. In hindsight, things like the reality of Garrison being born 14 weeks early, the 100+ days spent in the NICU, or not having him home for his first Christmas feel less challenging than the days, months, and years since.
Because he was so early, Garrison’s little body wasn’t ready for the stress and trauma that is the delivery process which resulted in some fairly significant brain bleeds, along with fluid in, and around, his brain. While serious and a long-term consideration, the brain bleeds were not as big of a concern as the pressure and risk of infection brought on by the increasing fluids (also known as hydrocephalus). If left untreated, bacteria could get into his brain fluid leading to meningitis, which is often fatal in immune-compromised situations like his, or the increasing pressure from fluid would leave him in constant pain, increased brain injuries and eventually death. They were telling us our son would die if they didn’t do something soon.
We were scared. Nothing can prepare you for that moment when a doctor says, “Your kid might not make it through this,” but then in the next breath follows that with, “But we have a great team and we feel confident he’ll be alright.” Prayer, faith, family, and friends were the only comfort we had in those days leading up to our transfer to the University of Iowa Children’s hospital in Iowa City.
We prayed for simple things like, “Lord, please let him make it through the 2+ hour drive to the hospital,” or “God, give our girls patience and understanding when mom has to be at the hospital with their baby brother several days a week.” Eventually, as his situation changed, they became, “Give his doctors and nurses wisdom and discernment as they prepare for brain surgery,” and, with a little bit of shame, “Jesus, please give him the ability to communicate with us some day so can care for him the best we know how.”
“He was home and that was the greatest answer to prayer we could have ever asked for.”
Many days, Mary didn’t know what to pray for during her 4+ hour round trips to and from Iowa City but felt peace in prayer nonetheless. In some ways, not being in control and having little to no physical ways to help Garrison was a helpful reminder. A reminder that God’s hand was over us and that, ultimately, it was His plan we were a part of and His will that would be done through it. What that outcome might be was mysterious and scary sometimes, but often comforting regardless.
Once he was strong enough, Garrison successfully underwent brain surgery to insert a shunt as a life-long solution to his hydrocephalus by gradually removing brain fluid. Not too long after that, on January 1, 2021, we got to bring him home. He came home, by the grace of God, with no medical equipment but a lot of doctor’s visits and anxious, late-night calls to his physicians, but he was home and that was the greatest answer to prayer we could have ever asked for.
The best way we can think to end this chapter in our story is with this:
Alone, we are pretty weak, fragile and selfish creatures. It is in our nature to run from pain and turmoil and difficulty, whether it’s our own or that of others, but that is where God resides. He is there in the trial. He is there in the muck and grime. He is there when you are broken down and have absolutely nothing left because He is capable of so much more than we can ever hope to give. Humbly going to him in prayer is, without a doubt, a catalyst for Him doing amazing things. In the moment when you’re helpless and are capable of nothing, He can do anything.
We still often pray for tangible things like a specific surgery or appointment, but our prayers are more often focused on his future: his salvation, a life free of pain or trauma, and that God would continue to give us peace by reminding us that He is always in control.
