In 2017, Will and Sarah Mortensen faced a tough situation. Sarah was pregnant with their third child. They were happy until a prenatal test revealed something worrying. Their baby girl, who they named Lively Reign, had a condition called Trisomy 18, or Edward’s Syndrome. This rare disorder, where a baby has an extra chromosome, often leads to serious health problems.
The Cleveland Clinic reports that 95% of unborn children with Trisomy 18 do not survive to term. Those who are born typically do not live beyond their first year. This news understandably shocked Will and Sarah. “It was a shock,” said Will, thinking about the impact on their family.
Despite the recommendation for further testing to confirm the diagnosis, a significant moment changed their minds. During a prayer, Sarah felt a powerful message, as if from her unborn child, encouraging her to continue the pregnancy. “Mommy, tell them to leave me alone. I’m just fine,” she felt her daughter say. This message led them to cancel the test and maintain the pregnancy, putting their faith in God.
Over the next 33 weeks, the couple, with their family’s support, turned to prayer. Sarah kept up with regular doctor visits and ultrasounds, but the uncertainty about Lively Reign’s health remained.
On July 24, 2018, their daughter was born healthy, showing no signs of Edward’s Syndrome. “She looks great. We’re good,” Will happily told Sarah when he saw their daughter for the first time.
Sarah saw this as a miracle. “God gave me a miracle. He saved Lively,” she said, reflecting on their journey.
Today, Lively Reign is a healthy five-year-old girl. Her story is a testament to the Mortensens’ faith and the power of hope in difficult times. Sarah offers advice to other parents: “And if I can tell any parent out there to let God have the final say, gather your information, lay it at His feet, and expect to hear Him.” Lively’s story is not just about her family’s love but also about the strength of faith.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14