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TESTIMONY
Mitchell...
Through My Eyes
A Conversation Between Mitchell and Grandpa
by James Goergen
Mitchell James Goergen, Happy Birthday, welcome to the world and to
our family. What a joy you are to us. We have been anticipating your arrival for many
years. Do you know that you are the 1st male Goergen, to carry-on the Goergen name for our
family? This is one reason that you and your family are so important to us. Our hope is
that because of you and your family, more respect and honor will be given to our family
name.
Although the whole family awaits the good news, a childbirth has a
special place in the heart of the parents, and grandparents.
Hello! Mitchell. You’re so cute...look at all the hair. Seven
pounds and two ounces, 21 and a half inches long…what a healthy looking baby.
What was that, a cord accident? The umbilical cord was wrapped around
your neck and twisted to cut off oxygen to your brain for an undetermined amount of time
during the birthing process.
A transfer to a Regional Neo-natal Intensive Care Facility and full
life support with 24 hour constant care. What else could go wrong?”
“Grandpa can I ask you a question?” asked Mitchell.
“Sure, Mitch, what do you want to know?” replies grandpa.
“What happened to me...why are they talking like this about me? All these things the
doctors say I will never be able to do...walk, move my legs, control my hands, see, hear,
move my tongue... the list is getting bigger everyday, what happened to me grandpa?”
“What happened was not your fault or anybody else’s really.
It’s a long story, but to keep it short, here’s what happened. A long time ago,
at the beginning of time, Adam and Eve, the first two people were created by God.
Everything was beautiful. There was only beauty and love, sunshine. There was birth and
life, no sickness or disease. There was love and friendship, not hatred, envy or
deception. Life on earth was beautiful and peaceful ... until the devil entered the
picture. He caused the first sin which changed the whole world until the end of time.
Since then there has been disease and disasters, hatred and envy for all following
generations. You see all of us, even you, innocent Mitchell, are still paying for the sins
of our first parents. We know this through the prophets, through Christ and through the
Catholic Church.”
“Why me, grandpa?”
“It really is not just you. If it happened to another child, you
would still wonder why it had to happen at all. Look around right here in the nursery,
believe it or not, many of these newborns are worse off or in more pain than you.”
“Doesn’t God love me?”
“Oh! Mitchell God loves you very much. Life belongs to the
Creator.”
“Grandpa are you sure, look at me, how could anybody love me? I
can’t even move...I am nothing!”
“Because of our belief in God our Creator, we know for sure that
God loves you. God creates love, and life, all things are created by God. And God loves
all things, including you, especially you Mitchell.
Let me tell you how much God loves you. God created all the stars in
the sky, there are billions and billions of them. He created the sun and the moon. God
created all the animals, so many different kinds and shapes and colors of animals to walk
and crawl and swim around in the world. God created all the flowers and plants to fill the
earth with color and beauty and food. Mitch, God loves you more than all of these
combined. God loves you so very much.
You are a very special creation just because God made you. Even if you
never move, or talk, you were created by God, He gave you life, therefore, He loves you.
He loves you not like a bouquet of flowers or all the flowers of a big field but more than
all the flowers on earth. And God loves you, just you, more than all the animals too! And
God loves you, just you, baby Mitchell, more than all the stars, the sun and the moon. God
loves you more than all these things.
God loves you so much more than we can imagine. All of these things,
all the stars, all the plants and all the animals, will some day fall from the sky or
whither and die. But Mitchell you will never die.
You see, 2000 years ago, a baby, just like you, was born. He was called
Jesus. He came into the world to teach us: how to love God because He created us, how to
love each other, even you Mitchell, and to overcome all evil, even death so that we can be
with God in Heaven for all eternity.
You have been created by God, with a soul, at the moment of your
conception. Your soul will never never die. OH! How much God loves all of us. God gave
Jesus, His only begotten Son, to the world to show us that we too will never die. Human
life is a gift from God, to be treasured, loved and cared for, because it will never
die.”
“Grandpa, do you love me? ... look at me grandpa!”
“Oh yes, grandma and grandpa love you very, very much. You will
always be in our hearts. Your mom and dad and grandpas and grandmas love you very much.
Your aunts and uncles and cousins love you very much. But we can’t love you as much
as God loves you. It’s hard for us to understand too. God loves each one of us so
very much it’s hard for us to comprehend and believe.”
“Grandpa, I wish that you could see me smile.”
“Mitchell you are so peaceful through all the commotion that is
going on around you, I know that you are smiling in your heart, because God loves you and
that’s why your yen to live so strong.”
“Grandpa, I can hear what the doctors are saying, the test
results, the predictions for my future by the doctors, nurses, and even some relatives,
they don’t give any hope for me. Some say that I shouldn’t live because I will
never be able to do things that normal people can do.”
“Many people just don’t know or refuse to look at you through
the eyes of Jesus. They are looking through the eyes of the devil and they don’t even
realize it. Yes, Mitchell, to our society, you are an unwanted child. You are among the
poorest of the poor on this earth, that is why you are special to God and to your family.
You are totally dependent on us to care for you. Not all will accept you as a child of
God, as we do. Not all will love you as one of Gods special creations, as we do. We really
do love you ... and we always will.
A song has struck me and for many weeks now. I can’t stop singing
it.
I will never leave you, I will always love you. You have taken a piece
of my heart!
The doctors may leave you...But Mitch, I will never leave you, I will
always love you. You have taken a piece of my heart!
Some nurses may leave no hope ... but Mitch...I will never leave you, I will always love
you. You have taken a piece of my heart!
If you never walk...let me be your legs...Oh! Mitch, I will never leave
you, I will always love you. You have taken a piece of my heart!
If you never see...let me be you eyes... Oh! Mitch...I will never leave
you, I will always love you. You have taken a piece of my heart!
Some are saying that the best thing is to let you die, some don’t think that you
should get the same care that any newborn needs, even just air... ... but Mitch...I will
never leave you, I will always love you. You have taken a piece of my heart!
So many Christians don’t realize that God gives us value. Our body materials are
worth about six dollars. Our value of life is directly related to our love of God. If we
don’t love God, we have no value. In today’s world the value of God is replaced
by self-love.
Many others don’t appreciate your life as a treasure from God, and
day by day the number is growing. We better not take a poll on whether or not you should
live...but Mitch, your parents and Grandma and I will never leave you, we will always love
you. You have taken a piece of our hearts! And when you’re called to Heaven. Please
don’t forget us, and take with you... a piece of our hearts.”
“Grandpa does my mom really love me? I can see her eyes, and hear
her words, does she really love me?”
“Yes, she loves you very much. You have been a big part of her for
nine months. She has cared for you, fed you, tried to make you comfortable, and talked to
you for nine months. She even breathed for you, for nine months. You have become part of
her body, part of her, and she will always love you.”
“Grandpa does my dad really love me? I can see his eyes, and hear
his words, does he really love me?”
“Oh yes, he loves you more everyday. And he always will love you, I am sure that you
are constantly on his mind. Know that your parents loved you very much and their love for
you will only grow if they are together and grow in love in union with our God. Because
nobody can appreciate you and love you like a parent.
You shared your life with them, for nine months and twenty five days. Your parents experienced so much during these times. You will know they love you when they build a strong relationship together. They need each other to share their thoughts and feelings of these times and of the future. No one feels what they felt together in their life with you. They are responsible to keep your family together.”
“Grandpa, I realize that I have put a tremendous strain on
their relationship. What if my dad leaves my mom?”
“Dad would be so foolish to leave. He wouldn’t be able to
sing ... I will never leave you, I will always love you. You have taken a piece of my
heart!
That would be bad enough but more than that, you are a gift from God, a
gift of love to your parents. There will never be another human being just like you. They
were meant to be your parents because you were meant to be. And yes, you had a mission for
your life just like each one of us, but yours was to be completed in 25 days.
Nobody but your parents, living together as your family, could keep the
memories of your life from being forgotten. Your birthday parties will be different
without a family keeping the memories alive with the rest of your brothers and sisters.
What usually happens in situations like these is one or both parents
have stopped praying. It’s a gradual process, first one leaves God, they stop
praying, they stop going to church, they don’t need God anymore. Then they lose their
sense of value for their family. Then they leave their family and closest friends to keep
the friends that have also lost their appreciation of life and love of God. These
friendships can never be as close as two parents and their immediate families.
There is a tremendous force in the world pulling your parents apart.
Your dad has a big decision to make. The devil wants us all to be on his side, to make
decisions that he would make. If we follow God’s laws, He gives us so much more as a
reward. So really it’s easy, will he follow God or the devil. God has set laws that
follow a moral responsibility. The devil’s laws are what the world see as
‘I’ll do it my way.’ ‘I know what’s good for me...better than God
does.’
The Church teaches that certain human acts are always right and that
certain human acts are always wrong, and this is based on the good of the community as
well as the good of the individuals involved. Many never even consider God’s laws in
any of their decisions. They decide, based on the polls or their so-called friends
opinions. If your dad leaves it will be because he has separated from God and united with
the devil. You will know this, because he will stop going to church on Sundays and he will
stop praying. He will stop thinking of God entirely.
This is so sad because if someone forgets his love for God, his
Creator, who gives them each breathe they have taken for their entire life, out of His
love for them...how will dad be able to keep his love for you Mitch who only lived 25
days.
I can feel your sorrow, just the thought of your dad leaving your family, I feel that I am
losing a son, because he is separating from us too. He is breaking away from all of his
family.
Please realize that whatever happens, be thankful for your parents,
because they gave you life. It takes role models like Joseph and Mary to be glue to keep a
family together, to make it a treasure, in a world that wants to divide a family into
separate pieces.
I can see why many mothers especially draw closer to Mary after a
crisis with their child. Mary nursed and nurtured Jesus. She held her son and taught him.
She was with him even during the crucifixion. And she held him after he was taken down
from the cross. Their hearts were really one!
In times like these, fathers should bond with St. Joseph. His virtues
and responsibility for caring for Mary and Jesus lasted his lifetime. Joseph could have
left, he almost did. But his faith led him toward God rather than away from God.
You see Mitch, your dad will never brag about you, ...”he looks
just like ME!”...”look at those big hands”...”he would have been a big
guy” ....and how much he loves you... like he will when he is next to your mother.
Because you are their treasure, the fruit of their love, you’re a major part of their
family.
Tell them, you didn’t leave, you just died and went to heaven. And
your parents should more than ever want to be in heaven too, with you. And the best way
for both of them is to help each other get there.
A prayer card found in my mothers prayer book might help your parents.
Your great-grandmother lost four children before they were born and two after they were
born and eight are still living!”
To Mother and Father . . . on the Death of a Child
There’s a corner up in heaven where the little babies play, And our Blessed Mother watches all throughout the live-long day.
They’re a happy lot, these babies, Sure the reason’s very plain; for they’ve missed the world’s contagion; came unscathed without its pain.
‘Tis an angel band they call them, and you both should happy be; you’re the parents of an angel, ‘Cause your baby’s there you see.
Yes, and smiling down upon you with an innocence sublime; waiting, watching for the parents it will meet again in time.
You should never be rebellious; rather thank a loving God For your little guardian angel, as along life’s way you plod.
With a faith that never falters, clasping each the other’s hand, pledge yourselves to meet your baby in that better happy land.
“Mitch, I know that you’ve touched your parents’ hearts like you’ve touched mine. You have taught me so much about life, peace, love, kindness, total dependence on our Creator, courage, persistence, trusting, hoping in the midst of reality. And you have taken the shortest and surest way to Heaven.
Talk to your parents like you do to me. Remind them that all the sympathy cards, the flowers, the donations, telephone calls, all the gifts and food, all the comments of sympathy that they hear and some they will never hear, all the arrangements, the visitation times and the prayers and services... ...from Who?
From caring family and relatives, and friends of relatives and friends of friends, and from distant acquaintances...Why? All because they believe in your parents and want to help them through this crisis and help them stay together because they belong together.
Then the words to the song I sing will change to “we” will never leave you, “we” will always love you. You have taken a piece of “our” hearts! And when you’re called to Heaven. Please don’t forget us, and take with you a piece of “our” hearts. “we” will never leave you, “we” will always love you...”
To Mom and Dad:
From Mitchell, Your own guardian angel
Hey, dad, look at me,...I can fly...watch this dad... pretty neat, hah!
Hey, dad...dad, look...watch me dad.
Hey dad, COME FOLLOW ME...I’ll teach you how to fly.
Hey, dad, look at me,...I can fly...watch this dad... pretty neat, hah!
Hey, dad...dad, look...watch me dad.
Please dad don’t leave...because I will never leave you, I will always love you. You have given me a piece of your heart! Dad, please take good care of my mom.
Hey, mom, look at me,...I can fly...watch this mom... pretty neat, hah!
Hey, mom...mom, look...watch me mom.
Hey mom, COME FOLLOW ME...I’ll teach you how to fly.
Mom, I will never leave you, I will always love you. You have given me a piece of your heart! Mom, please take good care of my dad.
Mom and Dad, I’ll be looking out for you and waiting.
COME FOLLOW ME BECAUSE WE THREE ARE ONE FAMILY!
James Goergen is the grandfather of Mitchell Goergen.