Sanyu Painter Mighty Baby Sanyu

November 16, 2018 - Sanyu is born!!!
The 36 hours prior to Sanyu's arrival may have been some of the most difficult of our lives. Based on regular doctor visits and how Noela had been feeling, we had been under the impression that our pregnancy was progressing well and that Sanyu would make her debut around Valentine's Day 2019. Sanyu had different plans though. Due to what we later learned to be a pretty severe case of pre-eclempsia, which we had no idea about except for a providential doctor's visit on 11/14, it was determined that the placenta had calcified and was not providing the life-giving and growing nutrients that are so essential for baby in-utero.  With much turmoil, crying, questioning, praying, fear, .... we came to the realization that Noela was in the best place possible for the circumstances in which we now found ourselves. 


Noela's doctor at NW Women's Clinic made a providential call by sending her to the hospital on 11/14, where she was admitted right away to be seen by the high risk pregnancy doctors at NW Perinetal Center. At the time, the doctors informed us that we could be in the hospital for up to months awaiting the proper time for Sanyu to be born, but first they needed to run a few tests, which is how they narrowed it down to a severe and early case of pre-eclempsia. 


It turned out that Sanyu was in a hurry though, because her birth happened within 2 days of Noela being admitted to the hospital. On Friday, November 16th at about 7:30 am, one of the hospital's labor and delivery doctors said baby is not doing well in the womb and we need to do a c-section  today. So with brave and prayerful hearts, Noela and I took one of the biggest leaps of faith that we could possibly imagine, putting the lives of both our little Sanyu and her beloved Momma into the hands of the doctors at the hospital. Noela was prepped and ready for surgery by 10:30 am and the doctors took her in to begin the c-section. Between the "you're going to deliver a baby today" decision  and time for surgery, we were visited by so many doctors, given so much information, processed so many worries and questions across our hearts and our minds. Through it all though, we felt God's hand at work bringing us as much peace as possible and lots of faith in God's plan for baby Sanyu's future.


Noela was truly a champion during the surgery. There was a little bit of pain, but for the most part she did wonderful; and at 11:09 am little baby Sanyu saw the light of day for the first time. The nurses quickly took Sanyu back to the operating room to remove the afterbirth and umbilical cord, and also inserted a feeding IV into her at this time. The nurses and doctors were surprised by the severity of the circumstances Sanyu had been living in over the last couple of weeks, as there was no fluid in the placenta; but they were even more surprised by the resilient and strong baby girl whom God would now let share her joy and wonder with the world. The nurse that helped with the operation would later go on to give Sanyu the title of "one-pound wonder" =D. Her parents were overjoyed with this wonderful new young lady. Sanyu is a traditional Ugandan name that means happiness or joy. However embedded in this name is a deeper meaning about how true happiness comes during life's peaks and valleys; and that with the most difficult journeys come the greatest rewards. 


As we start what will be a long journey on this rocky and at times uncertain pathway, the Painter family feels so very blessed for the prayers and support we are receiving; and are aware that this trip has already resulted in one wondrous miracle, our  little girl; and we are so very optimistic about the bright and beautiful future that lays ahead for our little Sanyu and our "Mighty" joy!!!