I recently recorded a brief summary of our last year with Ryan for a women’s retreat with our church. Click here to see it. I’m just warning you, I cry every time I watch it, but that could be because I am talking about my baby.
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(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (24)
I cannot get the Video to play.
Thank you for posting that video. You did a wonderful job speaking and I admire how strong your faith is in the Lord! I’ve never prayed for someone for so long and I’m just so glad that God has answered our prayers for Ryan and that he is doing well. You and your family are always in my thoughts and I have learned so much from you and your testimony. Thanks for posting your blog:)
can i post this?? i saw it on the rbc blog last night…i can’t wait to have pat watch it!
Leighann…I’ve watched it twice. I cry every time too, and it’s not my baby. I just love that you love God and He loves all of us, and that you were strong enough to tell us all about your life. I continue to pray for all of you…love ya!
Richelle
So I cried too and a lot! Them Scotty came running in and wanted to watch it with me and when you were holding Ryna at the end yelled, ” That’s my friend Baby Ryan!” Wow, we really have talked and prayed for Ryan a lot over the last year that he knows exactly whoi he is on the computer! It made me cry more.
I can’t tell you how much every word of what you said resonganted in my soul… for completely diferent reasons, I know what you are saying. God is so faithful and good. Thank you once again for sharing yourself with us.
This was amazing, Leighann. And such a blessing to me. Your faith is something I want to seek to have more of in my own life. God’s been dealing with me about letting go of the control as well, it just seems I’m a slow learner. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Love and prayers,
Tyra
You shared so beautifully! I cried. I was encouraged. Thank you for sharing.
I watched your video after I responded to your post about feeling guilty about not pretend playing with your kids. This video is the example I was talking about! Your children will be able to watch this in years to come and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have an awesome Mom who would do anything for them. Even making a life-changing decision when the outlook looks grim, but holding fast to a faith of trust and hope!
Excellent job on the video. God’s grace and peace have been so evident in your life the past year and a half. It is neat to hear how God answers the little prayers in life like needing a kitchen cleaned. We serve a BIG God. Love you lots and pray for you daily.
I like a little girl every time. And then I make the dying donkey sound as I try not to cry really loud when you get to the part about Henry wanting a son. I’m tearing up just thinking about it now. And just so you know, my prayers for you guys were long. So long I’d fall asleep praying for you all and wake up in the morning praying again.
This was awesome.. You have a future in speaking!
First off, it’s neat to put a face and a voice with all of the writing that I have been reading.
I am so thankful for your honesty and openess. I also had to defend my pro choice decision to a specialist who believed that there was something very wrong with my baby. I remember sitting in that office wondering why he gave me time to consider a choice, that I had no right to make. God would take care of my baby and me.
Fortunately, my story ends with a very happy ending. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my son…and my regular doctor is always so encouraging regarding our decision.
I will forever keep praying for your family. You have such a wonderful story to tell and God will keep providing the grace and courage to keep telling it. I loved that you used the references to Elijah and Abraham.
Thank you for sharing your story to us!!
I saw a link to your testimony on Courtney Cassada’s blog. I am blown away by your courage in the Lord.
Thank you for the beautiful reminder of God’s practicality.
Blessings to you & your family.
I can’t thank you enough for sharing this was us. I am sitting here now trying to think how I can get my mom to watch it. My mom is not a beleiver and your story makes God so real. It is also an encouragement to me as I am struggling with horrible pain from a degenerative disease. Each day is a struggle. Thank you for sharing this with us. I have been praying for Ryan and your family and will continue to. I spend lots of time in bed because of my pain and during that time I love being able t pray knowing that even though I can’t physical help anyone that I am praying for them.
Your faith in the Lord is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story so openly. I know that He is using your family as a vessel to bring the lost to Him.
When people hear our story I always tell them that while I would never choose the path that God has given us I wouldn’t change a bit of it either. Our struggles make our faith what it is.
This was life changing to watch.
God used you to speak right to my heart on so many issues. If I could I would love to give you a thank you hug, instead I send this HUG over the internet.
Thank you God for precious Ryan, for this baby is why today I heard Leighann’s testimony. Every life has a purpose, every life is precious, every life is in God’s hands. Even mine.
Tears roll down my face as I type this. Your living room testimony has touched my heart in a way that words cannot describe. I could relate to what you said in so many ways. In 2004 when at my 20 week ultrasound I found out that my daughter had an unknown(at that time) chromosomal disorder and a severe heart defect. She was given no chance of survival and we too were STRONGLY encouraged to terminate. We immediately said no because we believed it was not for us to decide whether she would live or die. We wanted to give her a chance at life. At that moment we gave it to God. We too prayed that God would heal her or make a way for intervention. Our daughter Emma Noelle came into this world on December 1, 2004. She was diagnosed at birth with MIDAS syndrome and Hypo-plastic left heart syndrome. Sadly the doctor’s at John Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore,MD told us that there was nothing they could do for her. She passed away in my arms on December 5, 2004. During her 4 days of life God used her life and our testimony to touch so many peoples lives. As heartbroken as we were(and still are) we have always felt the comfort of God’s arms around us. We had hoped for a miracle like you experienced with Ryan and although we did not get that we still would not change a thing. We embrace the heartache and are so glad that in our sorrow we have God’s love and understanding. He really does meet you where you are. Thank you for sharing your testimony. Can you imagine if you had listened to that doctor and taken Ryan’s life? Because you chose life Ryan has touched so many lives and will continue to do so. He is destined to greatness. Here’s to 1 year down and by God’s grace many more to come. God Bless you and your family.
Melissa Moss
melissamoss79@live.com
Sob, sob! You have been such an incredible testimony to me the past 12 months….your faith is so real….and I am in awe of how God has worked through Ryan and your family. Ryan is a precious miracle of God!! Continuing to lift you up in prayer!
Do you mind if I post the link to your testimony?
Sara, Yes you may post a link.
Thank you for sharing this. I cried too – what a testimony to life and to protecting it! Your honesty & transparency are so encouraging.
I am so glad you continue to hold on to Truth. The girls and I sat and watched it opened up some good conversation for us. Sending Hugs!!!
Kelly
I loved every second of it! I feel like I know you and your family!
That was beautiful! I check in on your family from time to time to see how you are all doing. What a wonderful testament of your faith.
I cry every time I watch it too. You did an amazing job. Your strength and faith is such a testimony to others. Thank you for sharing.