Parents Told ‘Let the Baby Go to Heaven’ 15 Minutes before Birth – They Refused to Give Up
|Charlie Edward Schnarr | Nick Schnarr and Charlie Edward Schnarr | Source: Facebook.com/nschnarr1
In the wake of tragic and unimaginable circumstances, a couple was on the brink of hopelessness, especially after doctors told them their baby wouldn’t make it. But against all odds, they chose to confide in God and fight for their child. What happened next baffled everyone!
No parent can bear the insurmountable pain of seeing their children in harm’s way. Sadly, some situations are beyond parents’ control, and despite their best efforts, there’s only so much they can do to improve things.
For one couple, the news of welcoming their baby came like a breath of fresh air, filling their hearts with infinite love and happiness. While they made preparations for the arrival of their bundle of joy, they were utterly oblivious to fate’s plans. Here’s their story of hope, faith, and the power of prayers!
Falling Pregnant
Nick Schnarr and Brooklyn Diamond Schnarr lived in Indiana, U.S., and were parents to two lovely girls, Sophie and Lily, when they received delightful news—they were pregnant. Although they were no strangers to parenthood, the moment they learned about their pregnancy brought indescribable joy into their lives.
Those words pinched Nick and Brooke’s souls and shattered their hearts into a million pieces.
They couldn’t wait to hug and hold their baby and embrace parental bliss again. Little did they know what the universe had in store for them. The couple counted hours and minutes to welcome their little angel, but the subsequent months brought multiple challenges.
The Dire Prognosis
One day, the Schnarrs learned something utterly devastating—doctors told them their unborn child had “water in the brain.” In other words, the baby had excess brain fluid, and his chances of survival were slim. They also discovered that if their baby survived, he would likely suffer serious brain trauma.
The doctors’ repeatedly told the couple to terminate the pregnancy, but they were not ready to give up. In medical terminology, Nick and Brooke’s baby had hydrocephalus, and they found out about the condition halfway through the pregnancy.
Despite the dire prognosis, the parents weren’t fazed and sought help from a children’s hospital in Cincinnati. Sadly, even the best specialists in the country could not make promises of a brighter future.
Per Nick, he and his wife were given a 90% chance that their baby would either pass away right after birth or suffer extreme cognitive complications, likely to impede his quality of life.
They Refused to Give Up
Even the best fetal specialists and palliative care experts didn’t give the Schnarrs much hope; instead, they were told to consider ways of letting their little angel peacefully pass away. Those words pinched Nick and Brooke’s souls and shattered their hearts into a million pieces.
Despite the odds stacked against them, the couple refused to give up. On July 8, 2016, fifteen minutes before Brooklyn was taken for her C-section, Nick recalled meeting the doctors to discuss their options:
“Literally, 15 minutes before they wheeled her [Brooke] back to start the C-section, we had another meeting with doctors regarding the use of a breathing tube and at what point we might need to remove that tube and let the baby go to heaven.”
But none of that dampened the Schnarr’s spirits. They went through with the delivery, and much to everyone’s surprise and joy, Nick and Brooke’s baby boy arrived with the loudest cry and sweetest cackle ever!
Defying Science & Logic
After staying in the NICU, Charlie Edward Schnarr was given the green signal to return home with his parents and meet his older sisters.
Everyone, including the doctors and nurses, was baffled by little Charlie’s survival because it had neither logical reasoning nor a medical explanation. Nick recounted:
“Somehow, his brain found a way to naturally ‘clear’ the blockage or re-route the fluid that was causing the oppressive ‘back-up’ of brain fluid.”
One might wonder how Nick and Brooke’s predicament was overturned, leaving everyone at a loss for words. The answer: the Indiana parents chose to put their hopes and faith in God. They prayed for a miracle and asked their loved ones to do the same, and their pleas were answered in the most heartwarming manner!
The Online Response
The doting dad, Nick, related the phenomenal story of his beloved son’s survival in an emotional post, which garnered love and support from the online community:
“Praise God for placing Charlie into this family. Welcome home.”
— (@terry.seitz.39) July 17, 2016
“Truly remarkable….Congratulations on your miracle!!”
— (@leslie.summers.7) July 17, 2016
“Congratulations on your beautiful and Healthy baby boy! God works miracles every day! You especially can testify to that! I’m so happy for your whole family!!!”
— (@mary.luebbehusen) July 17, 2016
“What a miracle…prayers answered! God is good! Congratulations and enjoy the snuggles! He is so precious!”
— (@meredith.libbe) July 17, 2016
“Nick, you got me crying and rejoicing with you! God is indeed A Savior! Children like Charlie Edward Schnarr have a special calling in Life. I have seen it happen a few times, and it will be interesting to see where God takes him! Blessings!”
— (@keevin.biggs) July 17, 2016
Indeed, miracles happen every day, and this family’s heart-melting story is a lovely testament to their power! If you enjoyed reading this story, please share your thoughts on Facebook.
Click here to read another story about a 1.24-pound girl born at 24 weeks and given a 10% chance of survival. Today, she’s thriving and has been dubbed a “living medical miracle!”