We serve and Awesome God – September 5, 2010

The fetus and the Surgeon

As a veteran photojournalist in Nashville, Tennessee, I was hired by USA Today newspaper to photograph a spina bifida corrective surgical procedure. It was to be performed on a twenty-one week old fetus in utero at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. At that time, in 1999, twenty-one weeks in utero was the earliest that the surgical team would consider for surgery. The worst possible outcome would be that the surgery would cause premature delivery, and no child born earlier than twenty-three weeks had survived.

The tension could be felt in the operating room as the surgery began. A typical C-section incision was made to access the uterus, which was then lifted out and laid at the junction of the mother's thighs. The entire procedure would take place within the uterus, and no part of the child was to breach the surgical opening. During the procedure, the position of the fetus was adjusted by gently manipulating the outside of the uterus. The entire surgical procedure on the child was completed in 1 hour and thirteen minutes. When it was over, the surgical team breathed a sigh of relief, as did I.

As a doctor asked me what speed of film I was using, out of the corner of my eye I saw the uterus shake, but no one's hands were near it. It was shaking from within. Suddenly, an entire arm thrust out of the opening, then pulled back until just a little hand was showing. The doctor reached over and lifted the hand, which reacted and squeezed the doctor's finger. As if testing for strength, the doctor shook the tiny fist. Samuel held firm. I took the picture! Wow! It happened so fast that the nurse standing next to me asked, "What happened?" "The child reached out," I said. "Oh. They do that all the time," she responded.

The surgical opening to the uterus was closed and the uterus was then put back into the mother and the C-section opening was closed.

Our God is a Great God

(Psa 86:8) Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

(Psa 86:9) All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

(Psa 86:10) For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

(2Co 3:18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Psa 22:27-28

(27) All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

(28) For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

Act 17:24-25

(24) God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

(25) Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

(Act 17:28) For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Job 36:26

(26) Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

Psa 33:4-9

(4) For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

(5) He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

(6) By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

(7) He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

(8) Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

(9) For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

(Psa 139:6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.