Martinsburg , Missouri
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Please Help this Beautiful Pro-Life Family
Meet the DeWitt family – a beautiful example of
pro-life heroism in action. Here’s their inspiring story.
Gemma and Aaron met while serving together in the
military. They quickly fell in love, got married, and were soon blessed with a
beautiful, healthy baby girl, Rachele followed by a healthy baby boy, Moses, a
little over a year later.
Life was busy and happy and after some time, the DeWitts
welcomed baby number 3 with great joy…a son Ezykiel. It soon became apparent,
however, that something was amiss. As he grew, he was not able to meet
developmental milestones. His tone was poor. Tests followed upon tests, but no
one seemed able to provide answers. Finally, a specialist diagnosed Ezykiel
with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) — also
known at MCT8 deficiency — an ultra-rare genetic disorder that affects a
child’s cognition, mobility and overall health. With only 320 known
cases existing worldwide, research was very limited and there is currently no
known cure or treatment for the syndrome. Ezykiel would require total care,
would be non-verbal and wheelchair bound. They were told that, as carriers of this
genetic disorder, there was a 50% chance any future sons would also be affected
(daughters had a 50% chance of being carriers but would not be affected themselves).
Embracing God’s will and trusting
in His providence, the DeWitts remained open to life despite these challenges, and,
a few years later, welcomed another baby boy, Jeremiah, who was also afflicted
with the same syndrome.
The following years held many
challenges for the family, financial, emotional, physical and practical, as
they adjusted to life with two special needs, total care children while also homeschooling
the older two children and caring for a growing homestead – frequent doctor’s
appointments, specialized medical equipment, adding a wheelchair ramp to the
home, obtaining a handicap accessible van able to accommodate 2 wheelchairs plus the rest of the family, not to mention the day-to-day,
moment-to-moment, 24/7 care requirements of feeding, bathing, diapering,
therapy etc. for the two youngest. Their steadfast trust in God as well as the
love, joy and peace with which they have embraced these challenges and poured
themselves out in selfless love and sacrifice for their children has been truly
inspirational to those of us blessed to know them.
Also beautiful and inspirational,
is the way in which they have faithfully transmitted their deep Catholic Faith
as well as the preciousness of every human life to their children. Rachele
(13) and Moses (11) are quick to help with their younger brothers whenever
needed, uncomplainingly tending to their needs with patience and love. The
younger two, although non-verbal can clearly communicate! Ezykiel (7) is
learning to use a specialized computer screen that he can navigate with his
eyes, and is often seen selecting his favorite prayers to pray along with.
Jeremiah (5) lights up a room with his infectious smile and the joyful spark in
his eyes!
While such circumstances would have
been viewed by many as a burden, they have embraced them as a blessing and remained
ever open to God’s will in their lives, including an unwavering openness to
life, even hoping and praying for more children despite knowing their chances
of having another disabled son.
After suffering multiple
miscarriages, the DeWitts were overjoyed to learn that they were expecting
again, and this time twins! They prayed earnestly that the babies would either be
girls, or if boys, that they would be healthy, but abandoned themselves and
their children fully to God’s will. As the pregnancy progressed, tests revealed
that the babies were both boys…identical twin boys. They knew that either both
would be affected, or both would be healthy. The wait was eternal. Finally, the
test results were in…and they were devastating. Both boys had AHDS.
Once again, faced with news that
would have caused many to despair or question God, the DeWitts responded with
inspirational trust and abandonment to His will praying that God would use
these challenges for His greater glory.
As they prepare to welcome the boys
in late October, many uncertainties remain (like how severely the boys will be
affected) and many material needs remain unmet – perhaps the greatest and most
urgent of which is transportation! Their current handicap modified van can only
accommodate two wheelchairs, and does not have enough additional seating to
secure two car seats during the infant stage. They will need a new, larger
handicap modified van ASAP, which will represent a significant financial
hardship for the family!
Please help this remarkable family,
most of all with your prayers, but also with any financial contribution you are
able to make! May God bless you and thank you in advance for your generosity!