Hope Out Of Heartache

    How do you find hope in heartache?  Can there be light in the midst of darkness?  Lawson Hebert's family knows.  They've lived it.

    On June 6, 2012, Kyle and Mindy Hebert welcomed their first born son.  Lawson Reed Hebert then spent the next 2 months in the NICU at Women's Hospital.  Mindy's sister, Lisa Kirby, remembers getting a phone call on the 21st of June.  A genetic specialist had called the entire family together for a consultation.  "It was a horrible meeting," Lisa remembers, "We were told that Lawson had a rare genetic disorder called Zellweger Spectrum Syndrome.  There was no cure, no treatment, only keeping Lawson comfortable through Hospice." Children with the most severe form of Zellweger Spectrum Syndrome have a life expectancy of less than a year.  Lawson's family banded together to support Mindy and Kyle, who showed incredible courage and faith as they nurtured their gravely ill child.  Mindy started a Facebook page, For the Love of Lawson, sharing her thoughts and prayers.  Little Lawson, as sick as he was, was a fighter, and inspired them with his loving ways and determination.

    On the same day as the consultation, Lisa went home to get clothes for Mindy.  She shares, "I remember fretting about being late to the hospital.  We ended up being 5 minutes late, and the NICU entrance in the parking garage was locked.  We had to walk around to the main entrance.  On our way, someone called out my name.  It was my cousin Nick Price, whom I hadn't seen in 15 years.  Nick heard about Lawson's devastating prognosis, and offered comfort and support.  He also explained that he was at Women's to see a friend who had just had a baby." 

    Later that night, Lisa received a message on Facebook.  Her cousin Nick had found her and contacted her.  He shared that his friend had been going to give her baby up for adoption, but the adoption had fallen through and she was very distressed.  What Nick didn't know was that Lisa and her husband Chris had been trying to have a baby for almost 11 years.  They had finally decided to adopt a child from Ethiopia, but had recently been informed that the criteria had changed and they could no longer go that route.  Chris saw Nick's message, and told Lisa she had to tell Nick about their situation.  "I was so conflicted," Lisa confesses, "How could I be thinking about myself when my sister was going through such a terrible time?  Mindy had always been so supportive and comforting, reaching out to me through all my hard times."  Lisa consulted with her younger sister Tracy and her father, who both gave her encouragement.  "My dad said, 'I'm not surprised.  I prayed for you and Chris this morning, asking that a baby would just fall in your laps.'"  With those words, Lisa wrote back to Nick and explained their situation.  Nick responded in tears, "This is obviously not a coincidence."

    At 8:30 in the morning the next day, Nick called Lisa.  "She wants to give you her baby."  Later that day, Chris, Lisa, her parents and Tracy met with the birth mother and her father.  The birth mother had such peace about Chris and Lisa, she handed her daughter to Lisa and said, "She's yours."  Little Magnolia Anne was received into the family, bearing as her middle name her birth mother's.  "Maggie's birth mother has been amazing," Lisa confides, "It's an open adoption, so she's been a part of all Maggie's milestones."

    Little Lawson went home to be with the Lord on January 26 of this year.  On his first birthday, his family and friends gathered to release lanterns in his memory.  The lit lanterns flew up to heaven as everyone celebrated his life.  "It's been bittersweet," shares Lisa. "Something reminds us of him everywhere we go." She is amazed at the strength of Mindy and Kyle, who have become involved in support groups for families of those with Zellwegers, offering compassion to others as they walk down the same path.  "They insisted on sharing Maggie's story at Lawson's funeral," Lisa says.  She remembers a day, about a month and a half after Lawson was born.  She was sitting in the NICU with Kyle, and he turned to her and said, "In the end, we'll probably still question God, but in the end, you'll have Maggie, and I'll never have to wonder why."

    Just yesterday, Maggie's adoption was finalized.  In honor of her brave little cousin, Maggie was given the additional middle name of "Reed".  She is now officially part of this remarkable family, and living proof that no matter what the situation, with love and grace, light can shine in any darkness.

    "- thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Hebrews 13:2