Luke Jonathan Bradbury

Luke Jonathan Bradbury was born at Chikankata Hospital on 20th September 2007. He is so cute and so long – 54cm to be precise. He is already being lined up as a centre half. Weighing in a healthy 4.2kg (9lbs), I feel he has the upper body strength for that role. For some reason there is interested in his hair colour, which originally was dark brown but it is now a little bit lighter! We shall see what becomes. I think its going to land somewhere between my African sunset colour and Heidie's brown hard. Father and mother are feeling very proud and very sore respectively.

We are so grateful to so many people. On Thursday afternoon, Heidie had quite a bit of pain in her stomach and we were beginning to think that this was the start of labour. We called our Midwife, Clare Ntinda, and she decided it would be good just to check on the baby’s heartbeat. Unfortunately during the check-up the heartrate had dropped significantly and was a cause for concern. And so the decision was made to go for Caesarian Section.

Given the circumstances, we were asked about going to a private clinic in Lusaka on our insurance. However, we felt strongly that it was not right that we should go elsewhere when all the people we serve were expected to come to Chikankata. It would send out the wrong message. Anyway, every day, women have C-sections at Chikankata Hospital and we had every, (actually more) faith in the staff here. Heidie had a real sense that God was in control and a real sense of peace about the whole operation. By this time, I was a complete and utter nervous and emotional wreck and no help whatsoever to anyone.

The medical staff were brilliant. In the operating theatre we had 3 doctors, 2 anesthetists, 2 midwives, 1 theatre nurse and a theatre attendant. We wouldn't get that service back home! It was one of the most moving scenes I have ever experienced in my life as the medical team came to the waiting room of theatre, complete with gowns. They formed a circle around Heidie on the trolley and prayed with us just before she was taken into the operating theatre. It reminded me again of why Salvation Army hospital's exist – there is something deeply soothing and healing about the presence of Jesus. Health, Healing and Wholeness. Heidie and I both felt that God was in control. We just knew that people back home were praying for us and Heidie said she really felt uplifted and supported during the early stages of the operation. In my mind the words “We are standing on Holy Ground, and I know that there are angels all around” were singing through.

It turns out that the baby’s chord was wrapped tightly around the neck and the placenta had become stuck and was bleeding. If we would have waited for natural delivery it would have been very dangerous for the wee man and for Heidie. Even if we had gone to Lusaka, the delay would have caused trouble When Luke came out he was not breathing and had to be resuscitated. The decision to go for a C-section was a good one, Chikankata is a great Hospital, we have brilliant friends and family and God is a mighty God.

Immediately, Heidie came out of the operating theatre, in her dazed state she said his name is Luke Jonathan. We had agreed on Luke because of the medical / healing / ministry connection and all that but I was still holding out for “The Fonz” as a middle name. To be overruled with any consultation just like that ….. Well, it's a disgrace! Apparently Jonathan means God has given and indeed he has!