I am very happy and feel grateful that, can have the opportunity to share this incident with you, my dear reader, about something happened in my young family.

Wrong Decision?

It was a pretty long story. Dated back when I gave birth to my second child, in June 2015. He was born healthy (full term) and we discharged from hospital normally just the same as my elder one few years ago.

One day a health care nurse gave us a home-visit a week after discharged to have a general check-up for my little one (this is the normal practice which perform for the new born in NSW). Overall is satisfactory, just the jaundice looked a bit concern, thus suggested us to go visit a doctor and have a blood test if possible.

Eventually, this baby boy went to a children hospital and stayed there for a phototherapy treatment. We stayed in the hospital for 2 days. During that time, a nurse suggested can top up with formula, approximately 3 times a day with 30ml each if needed. Even though both of my children were breastfed without consuming any formula, but because of jaundice, which made him always felt sleepy and tired, and that made him not taking enough for what he should be, it worried me much as a mother especially he was so young, around 2 weeks old. The nurse said when jaundice getting better, he will be more awake and taking more.

So, after leaving the children hospital, we went back to our place and gave him the first 30ml of formula, he only consumed less than one-third, my husband noticed that he did not feel well straight away and since then, having blood stools continuously, for at least 5-6 times a day. (It was more like bloodily diarrhea rather than a solid stool with blood on it.) Each time I changed his nappy, my heart is broken and I sometimes had tears in my eyes because of my wrong judgement and decision (I blamed myself of letting him tried the formula, every blood stool kept reminding me the fact and cause) that made him suffered so much as a result. You can imagine how discomfort the tiny little baby was enduring everyday for so many times. We basically stopped feeding him formula straight after that "first attempt", not even drank 20ml, but the harm is done, I really hope time can go back.

We brought him to a family doctor the next day or two, and the doctor referred us to children hospital. After examinations, doctors in the hospital said he was "dairy intolerant" (but we don't have any allergy nor medical history in our family, a little shocked and suspected when hearing that). The doctors and a pediatrician in charge in that children hospital asked me to try eliminate dairy food in all my diets, because what I ate will passed onto him. Then, I started to limit my diet according to doctors' advice, hoped the "problem" can solve by that simple instruction then he will get better. But I was too naive to think things will be back to normal once I do not consume any dairy.

I tried day after day; week after week, nothing happened or at least getting better since following to the doctors' suggestion on that very day. I then started searching on the internet to see whether any documentary or information can help. I was very lost and felt frustrated in that first few months. Nothing the doctors nor professionals can do because the patient was too young to take any allergy tests, no surgery nor medication is needed, nothing. What they can do is just asked me to eliminate any dairy products or similar suggestions.

Well then, if limiting my consumption on certain food type can "save" my baby, I don't see why not. So, I firstly eliminated dairy, after that, red meat. Later, some fruits like avocado. During those period of "experimenting" by myself, eventually, what I ate were chicken, fish (only white flesh type after trying, otherwise he will have larger amount than he "normally" did), rice and vegetable only. I limited myself on the food I ate, nothing changed other than the above food (with very small portion). I recorded how many times a day, the severity of the amount of each blood stool, what did I ate and at what time on the calendar. Hopefully can give me some clues or direction on what should I do based on his "outcomes". But, all the above just showing me he is not really "dairy intolerant" as the doctors said, otherwise should see any "result" before I cutting down other types of food.

By taking only those food, the condition seems "under control" but nothing more. He still had blood in stools, just the amount is not as scary as taking food like avocado, salmon, pasta…etc. I don’t want to risk anymore, maybe I already get used to see the bloody stool on his nappies, how sad to mention in this way but what can I ask for?! At that stage, my only thought was, I accept the situation and the "routine", just please don't get any worst.

Every time when I changed his nappies, seeing the blood in his stool and looking he suffered, the idea of keeping my strict diet grew even stronger (because from my experience, the portion and the type of food will affect the amount of his blood). Although my family worried about my health condition, because of the reasons like, I cannot eat much, imbalance diet for a couple of months, need to look after his older sibling, the household works, not enough rest, plus most importantly, need to continue the breastfeeding for my little one (it is the only source of food for him, how can I stop?) All these made very exhausted for my mind and body, I was afraid will become a burden for my husband and my family if I collapsed one day, but I need to find something to help or ease him and limitation on my diet is the only way I know is worked so far.

Faith

I am a Catholic since infancy. In those period passing time in sadness and seeing no result for all my hard works, I knew it is time to ask God for help rather than rely on human effort. So, I ordered some Sacramentals because of the numerous positive stories. When I placed my order, I believe my baby will be healed when the parcel arrived (it just like you asked for help, you feel relieved after you know the paramedic is at your door, because you know you are in safe hands). Likewise, I put my trust in Him. I thank God and as always, I believe that God has His plan no matter how worst or terrible the moment or situation is (although I did think of may lost him if the situation continued or get worsen), as always, I submit and surrender myself in His Holy Will.

Miracle Day

Almost a month of waiting, so coincident and the amazing thing is, the date I received the parcel is exactly the day he turned 4 months old, and it was October (Pope Leo XIII officially dedicated the month of October to the Holy Rosary). I immediately placed the Miraculous Medal on his little tummy and prayed the Holy Rosary like others did.

That night (I called it "miracle day"), after placing the Miraculous Medal on his tummy and prayed the Rosary, he slept well that night until the next morning without the need of changing nappy. On the next day, I changed his nappies like other previous days, but today is so "strange", because not finding any blood stool on any of his nappies for a whole day! How unbelievable. It really surprised me and so surreal that before the "miracle day", at least 5-6 times the nappies was having blood, sometimes up to 10 times, and it happened DAILY, just the frequent and amount may vary. After the "miracle day", what I found was just only one very tiny little red dot on his nappy that anyone could missed. If I do not check on every single surprisingly "clean" nappy, I can say there is no trace of blood in his nappies since then. I thank God and Mary for hearing my prayer. I didn't ask much, seeing such big change already make my whole family cheer with joy, but this is just the beginning.

Is It A Miracle? 

From that day onward until now, not even one tiny little red dot was found. No blood stool anymore, nothing. My family and I really believe this is a miracle (at least in our eyes). 

Then, we brought him to his pediatrician for a follow up check-up (been scheduled when he turned 6 months old). At the end of the consultation, I asked the pediatrician is it normal to stop bleeding straight away without any cause like medical intervention, changing in diet nor living style; not even any transition or patterns of showing obvious decrease in the amount over the days and time? He looked into my eyes and answered: “UNUSUAL”.

Since Mary healed my little one, he can enjoy the food which contain dairies such as cheese, full cream milk, cakes...you name it. He is as healthy as was born without any indication of what the doctors been said "dairy intolerant".   

Personal Reflection:

In this incident, I praise and give thanks to God who is our Creator. In my mind, He is like an engineer or a technician who can fix everything and restore things back to its original conditions because He is the one and only one true living God. God is perfect in everything, in Him no sin nor error could exist, unlike human. He is Almighty and Powerful, full of Wisdom; nothing is impossible to God. Persevere in praying (the longest waiting time for God to hear my prayer so far shy of a little less than 20 years, unless He likes to make another "record". As long as I am alive, I don't mind to witness it).

If no trials or difficulties ever happened in our life journey, how can we prove ourselves is a citizen of Heaven? How can we be a living testimony for His Glory? Act speaks louder than word.  

I hope this incident of mine can give you encouragement or renew the Faith, Hope and Love in God and Our Lady, Mother of God, who take care everyone of us so gently and dearly, just waiting for us to turn to Him, because God is our Father, and Mary is our Mother. And true parents know what exactly their child(ren) actually need and, most importantly in their best interest. 

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