I'd like you to meet VernaAnn Gabrielle Johnson. She's waving to you!
Verna Ann is an angel waiting to be born. She was diagnosed with Anencephaly at 13 weeks gestation.
This is her beautiful Mommy, Allison.
Allison with her loving husband, Ross. Ross and Allison had to make the very difficult decision as to whether to terminate the pregnancy or continue on, leaving it in God's hands. That is what they chose to do.
In Allison's words:
Since Anencephaly is 100% fatal, donating her organs was the reason we wanted to carry to term. Also to spend more time with her since she is just fine in my tummy. Also, we believe God has a plan for her and we wanted to do everything we could to give her that chance and for Him to take her in His time, not ours. We did find out that we cannot donate organs.
Allison suffers from polyhydramnios (excess fluid) at the moment. She recently had some of the excess fluid removed resulting in a weight loss of 17 lbs. She wanted so much to carry VernaAnn to term but the doctors are telling her it is just too dangerous. She is 33 weeks right now. VernaAnn will be arriving Tuesday, November 10th as her Mommy will be induced.
Allison, Ross and their two sweet little girls, Sophie and Faith.
Allison and Ross are very good friends with my son, Derek and his wife, Jeni. They are ever present in each others' lives, good times and bad so I feel as if they are my extended family in a way.
I'd like to offer this original watercolor paper painting (5 x 7) as a giveaway prize to be announced on VernaAnn's birthday, next Tuesday.
This little guy is named 'Patches' as he has little patches sewn onto his clothing with a heart-shaped patch on his chest.
This piece is titled: Nothing to Fear
To enter, please say a prayer for VernaAnn and her family by commenting here and if you'd be so kind as to post a link on your blog and let me know, I'll enter you twice!
I'd like this to travel the world♥ I'd like as many of us as possible to send up a prayer for this young family and their sweet angel.
As Allison says..........'Some people only dream of angels. We will hold one in our arms.'
Thank you all so much!
**Photos courtesy of Gail Mooney
63 comments:
Oh Darla, I'm sitting here at work, trying hard as I might to fight off the tears.
This story breaks my heart. I will say prayers every moment I think of this beautiful angel.
♥Lori
My heart goes out to them. I was told in Feruary that my baby ad full trisomy 18 and was unlikely to survive the womb. She was stillborn 6 weeks later. I then had a silent miscarraige in August. Its so heartbreaking.
Your friend is going to need all of your love and support right now. Such devastating news.
So very sorry for your loss Jasmine!
This is very very sad my thoughts are with this family and their little angel, I will be thinking of them on the 10th.
Oh Darla, I'm just sitting here crying. I will pray and pray and pray for this very sweet, loving family. How do people go through such things, I just don't know. I don't think I would ever have the strength.
God bless them and their darling little Angel. My heart is with them and with you.
Praying with all my might-Kelly
A very touching post Darla! Thanks for sharing! I shall pray for VernaAnn and her loving family. You are wonderful inside and out. Patches is adorable! Thanks so much for your sweet visit! I really appreciate your comment about my fabric ACEO. Have fun creating yours! Wishing you a lovely day!
Hugs,
Lisa :)
Darla, I am SO touched by your very loving post. I am Ross' oldest sister, Staci. We have been praying for them and keep praying for them. What a blessing it is for them to have so many friends and family that love them so much. Thank you for posting such a wonderful post. Blessings to you as well.
Praying...
That's a beautiful thing for you to do. They are certainly in my prayers. They're so brave.
Darla,
If I can see in between my tears, I must tell you, I am so full of despair for them yet, I admire the choice to give there child to God.
It must be so difficult to find out this information.
My prayers will continue. I will be in the airplane "High" perhaps the Angels will tap on my window and smile and me and tell me "they will be okay"?
You are so special to post this.
Thank you,
Sure makes one look at herself and wonder what the heck would make me think.. about, "My Art?".. (u know!)
YOu are precious and I will post this on my site.. Did you want me to post the entire story?
IN Gods Love,
Darlene xo
So sad. I will be praying for this family. God has a plan.
Sweet picture of them.
Hugs from Texas.
I will pray for this family.
Now I know why I was compelled to come in here today. What a heartbreaking story; and yet, a divine and holy one as well. This little angel without ever knowing it, has touched so many of us. We are all blessed as a result of VernaAnn's story. We are all put here to leave this world better than we found it. Most of us fall short. Not this family. Blessings and love to them all.
I know of a prayer group and will pass aling this story to them~So sorry to hear of this news.
i'm very sorry that your friends are going through such a difficult time. i will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.
your artwork/journey is not silly! you're creating beauty, and i see that it makes your heart big!
Darla, The deed is done!
oh darla... i'm totally crying like a baby right now. this is very very heartbreaking and i salute the mom and dad for having so much courage and strength to get on with this pregnancy. VernaAnn will forever live in the hearts of everyone she has touched ... and only an angel can do that...
darla, oh my, tears are in my eyes. this is so beautiful. you are so beautiful; verna ann, ross, allison and their family are so beautiful... thank you...
yes, i will say prayers...
love,
lynne
Thank You Darla!
From VernaAnn's Grandpa Neal
Hi Darla,
What a courageous couple and surely God has a special plan for that precious baby. And God will certainly bless these wonderful people beyond their wildest dreams. Thanks for sharing this.
Praying..............thankyou for your heartfelt story. The photos are wonderful and show the true strength of this family.
Shelley
Oh Darla what a loving couple and a beautiful family.
They are all in my prayers.
Love Renee xoxo
I love you Allison and you are so brave and have such a huge heart. I wish you nothing but the best and this truely breaks my heart!
Danielle
A pray for them, for this beautiful family and this little angel.
All my thoughts with them.
What a beautiful, courageous souls this mother has. My heart and thoughts are with her. Angels walk the earth too...
I have been praying for them & asked others to pray as well. I am standing in faith that God has a miracle in store for their sweet family!!
thanks for posting this Darla, I have posted the link on my facebook page so others can be praying as well!
Heartfelt prayers go out to this family from ours during this painful time. We will be praying for strength, courage and understanding during this time. Our hearts are with the family.
Micah
Prayers to the family, for peace and strength in the days to come. God bless them and their sweet little angel.
Katie
Reposting this at:
www.sklay723.blogspot.com
Father, You don't make mistakes. You lovingly formed and joyfully care for Verna Ann daily minute and minute and second by second. She and her family are so precious to You and I rejoice in your plans and purposes for her. I ask you along with so many others that You cover Verna Ann and bring wholeness to her and bring her into this world in Your timing. I pray that your peace, joy, hope and comfort of the Holy Spirit be upon Ross, Allison, Sophie, Faith and Verna Ann. You are God and we can trust You no matter what it looks like. You are more than enough as we lean into You. Thank you for tenderly carrying them and doing what man can not do. Thank You, Father! In Jesus Name, Amen
Oh Darla....I'm at a loss.
Verna Ann and her family are in my thoughts and my prayers.
Sending so much love!
Kitty, that's a beautiful prayer, thank you!
Thank you ALL!!!
When God decided this special Angel was needed elsewhere, He knew He could give her to these loving parents to protect as much as they could- and they have done a wonderful thing..and have taught us all that God's plans are mysterious to us, but sometimes they are needed to show us we are not alone in this world- but rather connected and loving. And we all care about this sweet, strong, loving family. My prayers are with them all.
I am holding VernaAnn and her beautiful family in my heart.
Love and hugs to you all.
awwwww.... god bless u dear.....best wishes...
Darla - My heart and prayers go out to you and this beautiful family. What faith can do to carry us on absolutely never ceases to amaze me.
Oh, Darla, such an unbearable fate, yet Allison and Ross seem to bear it so strongly and beautifully! I will hold all five of them in my heart and send them all my loving energy!! Love, Silke
My prayers to this amazing family and their unselfish desire to carry this angel to birth. We all believe our children are angels sent to us by God but VernaAnn is no doubt an angel that He is calling home to him for a very special reason.
Hi Darla,
This story is so moving, and the photos so beautiful. Your post has touched my heart
They'll be in my thoughts and prayers
My thoughts and prayers are with Allison and Ross and their family
Carolyn ♥
Darla, That story brought tears. What an amazing family!! I will certainly keep them in my prayers. I'd be happy to pass it on so that others can be praying for VeraAnn and her family. Is this Neal and Gaylene's grandbaby?
Love,
Jill
Thank you for sharing such a tough but heart gripping story Darla. I cannot imagine going through something like this. You, the baby, and the baby's family have all received your place in heaven by doing something so kind. God's Blessings to You All.
Darla, how brave and how much love you all have. You need a love bubble around you all!
Bless you all so much!
We will surely pray each night for this situation, I will get the names as my hubby and I pray together each night. This will be a tearful one though for sure. It is so exteremly a Faithful for this family, Wow, how aamzing they are and may God Bless them and you too. An awesome lady you are and a awesome couple they are too,my heart goes out to all of you .
Prayers and Hugs
Dena
Praying for this family! May God wrap his arms around them and may they know His love!
Praying for this family! My heart goes out to them!
I got it done, I added a link to my blog and asked for prayers.
Thank God!!!
Hugs Dena
Sending prayers to this family.
My heart breaks for this beautiful family. I've lost six angels and the mere thought of one more family having to endure that kind of pain is excruciating. I pray she holds that angel in her arms, and that the Lord holds the family in his. May he give them courage, hope, and peace in this terrible time.
Sweet Darla.
Touching this report... made my eyes fill of tears.
we are really day by day selfish worrying about banalities of the.. having so many people that suffer with resignation unimaginable pains.
Your painting is wonderful and sweet like you.
That God blesses this family and they of forces to cross more that proof.
all my love.
Yasmin
oh Darla....this is so sad to hear...I am heartbroken and will pray for this wonderful family.....
I am speachless and want you to know that I am here if you need me...
I also wish we could do something for this family...
Bless them and you for sharing this with us....
Sorry I missed this post....
Hugs
Diana
We are sending you all of our prayers. We also have a baby angel, Isabelle went back up to heaven on my 37 week appt.
Keep this little one in your hearts forever
Sandy
www.azangels.blogspot.com
Darla I'm so sorry I didn't see this sooner. My heart and prayers are with you and your family, all of them.
I'm so terribly sorry and admire you daughter so much for her strength and courage, please do tell her that. We'll be there with you all tomorrow dear one♥
Sharon
Thank you all SO much! Tomorrow is the day, 7:00 am Allison will be induced.
I'll try to update as soon as I know anything. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
Sharon..Allison is a good friend to my son and his wife, she is not my daughter though. ♥
Thanks Darla, I wasn't sure. They'll all be in our prayers♥
♥Sharon
I started a Prayer Request Blog a week ago, and I was told about the Johnson family. I added them to the request list today. I do not wish to be entered into the giveaway. I just wanted to say thank you for sharing so that we may keep this family, and their precious angel in our prayers.
Many Blessings-
Danielle
Aw I was so touched by this very sad story. I will pray for them. I loved what Allison said about holding na angel. May God bless them and their little angels.
Xo,
Tammy
I am praying for this sweet family and their little angel. My heart goes out to them.
It really is up to God and perhaps He hs something very special in mind for them!
My thoughts and prayers.
Charlene
Just wanted to check in and see how things went today. You have all been on my mind the entire day. ~hugs and prayers
Sandy
Thank you Sandy. Allison was induced this morning and the last I heard was that the contractions were strong and little VernaAnn's heartbeat was strong.
It's a tough day and I appreciate your prayers. Thank you so much.
I found your blog via blog hopping, things happen for a reason. Our daughter is in th eprocess of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, our path is helped with medical opportunities, I am sending prayers for this speical angel and her family. I truly hope they have strenght on the journey and that they find peace in whatever mission this little angel should lead them on.
I just wanted to add that I revisited your post,and your drawing and the title has given me strength for our doctors appointment Friday when we will have a final diagnoses for our daughters health issues.
God bless them, and give them comfort. What strong souls they must be.
My thoughts and prayers are with this young family and with your family too Lisa. So, so sorry to hear this sad news. May God hold you all in the palm of his hand and give you caresses of love and strength.
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