On a cloudless spring day almost three years to the day after we met, I stood before a preacher with a thick east Texas drawl and promised to give Michele everything. It didn’t take long to begin an almost fairy tale story of wedded bliss filled with white picket fence dreams complete with two cats in the yard and a perfect family including the baby girl she always wanted.

We had carefully planned and prepared for the arrival of Lourdess whose name means “miracles of healing.” The East Texas preacher had called her our love child. Although she entered the world looking perfect, the standard hearing test mandated by state produced spirit crushing results. Much to our utter shock and disbelief our wonderful little angel had profound hearing loss.

Love always trusts, hopes and perseveres but never fails. We yearned for a miracle in our baby’s life. Our faith waned but never completely evaporated. During the first six months of Lourdess’ life, a striking and poignant series of events would reveal a miracle no one saw coming.