The Miracle of Melany

Twelve days. Jaqueline’s newborn, Melany, had only been alive for 12 days before she started to become sick. Now, Jacqueline held her precious baby girl in her arms as they rode to the hospital just outside of San Salvador, El Salvador.

How could this be happening?

They arrived at the hospital. Jaqueline wrapped Melany in a blanket, kissed her and handed her over to the doctor.

Is this a nightmare?

Melany’s initial diagnosis was pneumonia — a daunting hurdle for a newborn to overcome. Jaqueline felt powerless as she watched her baby fight for survival for 12 long, exhausting days. But, as Melany began to improve, Jaqueline gave herself permission to feel relief.

However, after Melany began to recover, the doctor still had concerns. He requested further testing and a follow-up meeting with Jaqueline.

Jaqueline’s mind raced as she sat on a chair in the empty office, waiting to hear what the doctor had to say.

What more could possibly be wrong?

The doctor walked into the office. He smiled warmly at Jaqueline as he passed Melany back into her arms. He was impressed by Melany’s miraculous recovery from pneumonia — plus, he couldn’t help but comment on how adorable she was.

Then he paused.

“Jaqueline, your daughter has Down syndrome.”

Jaqueline stared at him in disbelief.

“I felt frozen,” Jaqueline says. “It was as if everything stopped. The world caved in. And I felt so sad.”

The doctor went on to explain that Melany also had a condition related to Down syndrome that would prevent her from ever walking.

As Jaqueline stepped out through the hospital doors that day, she walked straight into a year filled with unimaginable challenges. She struggled to come to terms with her daughter’s diagnosis and navigate her own depression.

However, amid the darkness, there was a beam of light. In the first months after returning home from the hospital, Jaqueline and Melany began attending the Survival Program at their local Compassion partner church. The staff there offered a positive outlook for Melany’s future, as well as counseling for Jaqueline.

At the church, Jaqueline joined other mothers in activities that encouraged their babies’ gross motor development. She practiced the exercises at home with Melany as well.

“Doing the exercises forced me to interact and play with Melany more, which showed me how much she just wanted my love,” says Jaqueline.

Through the Survival Program, Melany also received sessions with a specialist. And as the months passed, Melany began to crawl and pull herself up on furniture, defying the diagnosis that she would never walk.

“Jaqueline’s effort was special. And we celebrated every little achievement from Melany,” says Damaris, a Survival Program staff member.

And when Melany was 18 months old, they celebrated a miracle — Melany took her first steps.

Thanks to the support of generous friends like you, moms and babies across the world are experiencing miracles, just like Jaqueline and Melany have.

“I remember when Jaqueline would say to me that she didn’t know why Melany had come into her life,” Damaris says. “But now, Jaqueline says that Melany is the most valuable gift that God has given her!”

To help bring hope to moms and babies like Jaqueline and Melany, consider giving to the Survival Program today.