Covered by the Shadow of His Hand

By Margaret Hervie

This book has been written for you, dear friend, by a mother of a child born very prematurely. I have been on a journey that you may identify with. This realistic, practical, easy-to-read book encourages and strengthens you, whatever 'season' you are in. It helps you to see how every one of your lifes experiences is a stitch in the beautiful tapestry that God is working on, for the overall prosperity of your life and the life of your child. In this book, our journey takes us from the neo-natal unit to primary school. Clear and honest journal excerpts, notes on the importance of prayer, practical ideas and uplifting scriptures will provide solid support for you on your journey. This book helps you to reflect on your experiences and to extract vital lessons learned. It also acknowledges the contribution of dedicated health professionals to our overall welfare. Most importantly, this book encourages you to see that God is not merely observing what you are going through. Infact, He is right in there with you. I have prayed for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781456738754

Margaret Hervie

Margaret is a practising Christian and the mother of a child born very prematurely. She has practical knowledge and experience of being a parent and carer of a preemie. With her gift of encouragement, she is able to pray for, empathise with, and encourage families of preemies. She strongly believes in prayer, the mercy of God and His faithfulness. Her 'journey' has brought with it many insights which she willingly shares with others. She enables others to experience 'freedom' and richness in whatever season of life they may be in. She is passionate about helping others to discover what Job says in the bible: 'But he knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold'.

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© 2013 Margaret Hervie. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/17/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3876-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3874-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-3875-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011907959

This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. If needed, quotations may be short and limited; the occasional copying of a page for personal use or for group bible study and prayer is encouraged and permitted. Permission will be granted upon receipt of request. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright ©2002 Hodder & Stoughton. The texts quoted fall within the permitted percentage that may be used. Any emphasis within scripture texts is the author’s own.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Praise

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1 Mimi

Chapter 2 God Is Working On Your Behalf

Chapter 3 Excerpts From My Diary

Chapter 4 Excerpts From My Diary

Chapter 5 Pray For Your Child

Chapter 6 God Speaks

Chapter 7 Excerpts From My Diary

Chapter 8 The Blessing Of God’s Peace

Chapter 9 Excerpts From My Diary

Chapter 10 Your Lifeline Is Prayer … Much Prayer.

Chapter 11 Why We Need To Pray

Chapter 12 Practical Ideas To Help You On Your Journey

Chapter 13 Who Is On Your Side?

Chapter 14 What Are You Learning?

Chapter 15 A Time Of Reflection

Chapter 16 Be At Peace With God

Chapter 17 My Victory Song

Chapter 18 What Wonderful Health Professionals!

Chapter 19 The Vulnerable Woman Versus The Myth Of The Strong Woman

Chapter 20 Let’s Get Real

Chapter 21 Are You A Person ‘Without Excuse’?

Chapter 22 Hold On Tight

Helpful Scripture Verses To Pray With

Dedication

This one’s for you, Lord Jesus.

PRAISE

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.       [2 Corinthians 1:3-4]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With immense gratitude to my family and relatives and all my friends, neighbours and work colleagues - so many of them I could not fit them all on one page - who have stood by us through thick and thin. I am grateful to the leaders and members of Agape Christian Centre and Trinity Baptist Church, in the London Borough of Hackney, for the prayers and immense support we have had from them. I thank God for my family and dear friends who availed themselves to the Lord as channels of blessings through whom He supported us during a rather ‘wobbly’ season.

We are forever grateful to:

•   Homerton Hospital’s NICU/SCBU centre (London).

•   Homerton Hospital’s Starlight Children’s section (London).

•   Donald Winnicott Centre / Hackney Ark ~(London).

•   Dr.R.Gangola and his team at the Barrettts Grove Surgery, Stoke Newington, London.

•   Home-Start Hackney (London; now closed down!)

•   Somerford Grove Health Centre in Stoke Newington (London).

•   Everyone who prayed for us and was kind to us and supported us in so many ways.

He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. [Proverbs 11:25b]

To God be all the glory.

INTRODUCTION

This book been written for you, dear parent of a baby born very prematurely. I am a mother of a child born very prematurely. My daughter was born at the gestational age of 24 weeks and 5 days. I have been on a journey that you may identify with. Therefore, my hand is reaching out to you through this book to encourage and strengthen you. It is my hope that this book will help to light up the steps on your path and enable you to experience freedom, release and healing in your soul and mind. I have prayed and I believe that when you read this book you will receive big, warm hugs from the Holy Spirit to encourage you every step of the way.

The ‘smooth pebbles’ that I have in my pouch, and which enable me to walk through each challenge are:

•   The Word of God

•    The Holy Spirit

•    Prayer

•    Praising and worshipping God

•    Faith

•   Trustworthy, sincere people around me who have loved us and supported us in so many different ways.

If this may be of any comfort to you, God laid the following words on my heart to pass on to you:

Every one of your life’s experiences is a stitch in the beautiful tapestry that God is working on, for the overall prosperity of your life and the life of your child.

CHAPTER 1

Mimi

My daughter Mimi was delivered into this world on a cold February afternoon, by an emergency Caesarean Section. At the gestational age of 24 weeks plus 5 days, and weighing 585 grams (approximately 1lb 3ozs), she was of great concern to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at the Homerton University Hospital in East London in England (United Kingdom). I had suffered a ‘suspected’ Pre-Eclamptic fit that morning. My blood pressure readings throughout the day were alarmingly high. The consulting team decided that the wisest decision on the day was to save both our lives by ‘ending’ the pregnancy via an emergency caesarean section.

Mimi’s stay in the hospital’s Neo-Natal / Special Care Baby Unit lasted 16 weeks and 3 days before I could bring her home. She was oxygen dependent, moving from 24-hour dependency to 12-hour dependency until she was gradually weaned off this extremely vital necessity of life months later.

Mimi’s health has gone from strength to more strength. She is an extremely healthy child who, at the time of editing this page, is in Class 3, in full-time primary school education, from 9am to 3.30pm, every weekday. She is very lively, sociable, intelligent and eager to learn. She is in the top group in