Oh God, Why My Only Child

By Bettie Blocker Owens

Oh God, Why My Only Child recounts what I experienced when my only child became permanently brain damaged due to medical malpractice. The brain damage was irreversible with my child ending up in a persistent vegetative state. There was so much despair and hopelessness that at times, I felt like I could not go on living. I felt driven to write this book to share the mental anguish, despair, and long suffering that I experienced; and with God's help, I got through it all. I am hoping that this book will help someone else who has gone or will go through what I have gone through. As Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be God, even the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." Each one of us has different strengths to cope with life's disappointing trials and tribulations. The pain can seem unbearable, but God said that His grace is sufficient. I know that with God's grace, you will get through it

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781635756784

Book preview

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Oh God,

Why My Only Child

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Bettie Blocker Owens

ISBN 978-1-63575-677-7 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63575-678-4 (Digital)

Copyright © 2017 by Bettie Blocker Owens

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Introduction

Have you ever gone through life doing your ordinary routines, and suddenly you are paralyzed with a head-spinning, stop-in-your-tracks traumatizing phone call alerting you that something terrible has happened to one of your loved ones? You hear about this happening to many, many people—some you know and some you don’t know—but when it happens to you, it seems like your whole world just caves in on you, turning you upside down and inside out.

In Oh God, Why My Only Child, I recount what I experienced when my only child, Kanika, became permanently brain damaged, due to medical malpractice. The brain damage was irreversible, with my child ending in a persistent vegetative state for the past seventeen years. There was so much despair and hopelessness that at times I felt like I could not go on living. Each one of us has different strengths to cope with life’s trials and tribulations, and the pain can seem unbearable, but with God’s grace, He helps us get through it.

I felt compelled to write this book to share the mental anguish and spiritual challenges that I experienced, and because of God’s grace, I got through it all. It took me seventeen years to complete this book. At first, it was so painful. It was like I was reliving every actual event that occurred. Sometimes I could only write one or two pages, and then I would have to stop because I found myself falling apart. I would not begin writing again for six months or more. At one time, I went a whole year without writing more of the book. It was just too painful. But as years went on, I was able to write more and more until I finally finished.

I am hoping that this book will help someone else who has gone or will go through what I have gone through. As Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Blessed be God, even the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. My prayer is that, because God has given me comfort, He will use me to comfort others. I hope that my story will help others to get through their trials.

As you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation (2 Cor. 1:7).

The book is dedicated to the following people:

My Family: Thank you for supporting me during my toughest times with your prayers and much love.

My Dear Mother: Thank you for being there for me and sharing your wisdom with me before passing away prior to the completion of this book.

A Special Aunt: Thank you for helping me with editing this book.

My Daughter’s Closest Friends: Thank you for being there for me.

All Mothers and Fathers: May you find comfort in reading this book if you are going through, have gone through, or will go through a similar tragedy.

For privacy, all names have been changed, except for Kanika’s.

I

That Terrible Phone Call

It was on a spring day, April 24, 1998, around noon. I was sitting in a restaurant across the street from where I worked in Washington, D.C., having lunch with two of my coworkers when my pager went off.