When Sol and Jerry found out that one of their children had a serious condition that would severely impact his life, they didn't hesitate for a second to bring him into the world and welcome him with the same love with which God had sent him to them.
Soledad Ramírez (Sol) and Gerardo Melo (Jerry) were very young when they met and decided to start a family. Both grew up in Catholic families and tried to live their lives according to the teachings they received at home and with Catholic values.
In 2017, Sol received the news that she was pregnant with her fourth child. At the time, the couple was in Mexico when Sol began to experience contractions and bleeding at 9 weeks pregnant. When they arrived at the hospital, their baby's heart was no longer beating.
"It was very difficult, but it was God's will. I don't know why things happen this way; maybe one day I will understand, maybe not, but I know that everything he does is for us," said Sol, remembering that difficult moment.
On the other hand, Jerry did not understand why God repaid him this way when he had entrusted him with his family.
"Why do you tell me you're giving him to me and then take him away?" he remembered asking. "For me, it was very hard, and it took me time; it was an emotional shock. I kept struggling against him, against my comfort of what I wanted from him. But it is surrendering to the Lord that gives you strength."
"We named him José Maria because we didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. He was conceived and existed, and he has the same dignity as everyone else. He couldn't have passed through this world without making an impact," the couple expressed.
"Today, human beings want to avoid suffering, but they don't realize that through suffering, there is much to be learned."Jerry Melo
Sol and Jerry continued their lives with the certainty that God's plans are always better than theirs.
"God knows and allows things to happen for your growth," Jerry said.
"By surrendering control, he also gives you freedom and removes many fears," added Sol.
In 2022, Sol became pregnant with her eighth child.
"Josías definitely came and broke all patterns," Jerry said.
After routine tests and DNA analysis, at 20 weeks pregnant, Sol received a call from the hospital explaining that her blood tests showed her baby had a serious condition that would severely impact his life—Edwards Syndrome, also known as Trisomy 18.
Edwards Syndrome is characterized by low birth weight and birth defects. In most cases, babies are born with defects in their vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and intestines, among others. While most babies with this condition die in the womb or shortly after birth, some survive for a few years.
Sol remembers receiving this information by phone, shocked and unable to comprehend what she was hearing. When Jerry returned from work, she informed him of the situation. After talking and praying together to process this difficult information, Sol and Jerry placed themselves in God's hands.
"We're going to fight. God is sending us this little one, we're going to fight and see what comes, what he wants to teach us. It doesn't matter if he lives 20 years and we have to carry him. The time God gives us — whether 5, 10, 15 years, or 1 — we will be there for him," Sol recalled emotionally.
"For me, it was about praying, asking God to lend him to me, no matter what, but letting me know him. I saw myself in the gym preparing physically to be strong for my son, in case I had to carry him when he was very big," Jerry added.
"I want my children to not only follow God but to lead others to follow him, to proclaim God with their lives and actions, that is my dream. Josías did that."Sol Ramírez
In one of the ultrasounds, they realized Josías' situation was very complicated. However, they trusted in God and his mercy.
"My son had a cleft lip, one ear didn't develop, his hands and feet were contracted, his intestines were outside, he had many heart abnormalities, among many other things," Sol described.
"When they tell you all of that, even if your mind doesn't want to see it, your heart feels that it will be almost impossible," Jerry noted.
Over the next weeks, both Sol and Jerry tried to carry the pregnancy as normally as possible, supported by their faith. Sol, for her part, sought refuge in the arms of Mother Mary to live through this process.
"I leaned on walking with Mary, especially in the image where she is holding Jesus' naked body just taken down from the cross. I carried that image throughout the pregnancy... I said, 'I don't know how you did it, to carry Jesus and suffer the way you did, I don’t know, I can't, but you have to teach me,'" Sol remembers with emotion.
Eight weeks later, on September 29, 2022, Josías was born at 28 weeks and died during labor.
"For us, my son fulfilled his mission here. Although he didn't get to see this world, he fulfilled his mission and came to teach us many things," Jerry said.
"Our mission as parents is to lead our children to Heaven; we already have two who pray for us... God prepared us with José Maria. It was a lot of pain with both, but it was very hard with Josías because we had him physically. With Josías, I learned not to complain against God," he added.
Sol and Jerry have always fought to keep their family united but, above all, to put God at the center to guide their children and raise them with the best Christian values, even in the most difficult moments.
"Suffering is part of life. If we avoid suffering for our children, we also avoid teaching them to love. From the beginning, we were very clear with our children about the condition of their little brother," Sol said.
Although Josías came into this world lifeless, his siblings had the chance to meet him, giving him the love and dignity every human being deserves.
"I want my children to not only follow God but to lead others to follow him, to proclaim God with their lives and actions, that is my dream. Josías did that," Sol expressed.
"Today, human beings want to avoid suffering, but they don't realize that through suffering, there is much to be learned," added Jerry.
Today, Sol and Jerry are expecting their ninth child with great hope and excitement. Although they experienced some uncertainty at the beginning of the pregnancy, they both trust in God's plans and his infinite love.
As they prepare to welcome the new member of their family in a few weeks, Sol and Jerry trust in the grace of the Lord and know that, just like José Maria, Josías, and their other children, this new child is also coming to fulfill a mission that God has entrusted to them. They simply said yes.
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