After three weeks of chemotherapy Lynn went back to the hospital to find out if her cancer had responded to the treatment. As she sat in the uncomfortable plastic waiting room chairs, Lynn became very anxious. “I shouldn’t be nervous about this, I’ve done it enough times” she said to herself. In the past three years Lynn had many chemotherapy treatments to fight the cancer, and anxiety in a waiting room should not be an issue. Just as she was really starting to worry the doctors called her in to have the MRI. However, before a woman could have an MRI they needed to do a pregnancy test. To Lynn and the doctors surprise, it was positive. “How can that be?” Lynn exclaimed “I was was told I would never get pregnant again”. Lynn had no idea what to do with the news she was given, so she called her husband Bob. He came down to the hospital to meet Lynn and discuss with the doctors about the next steps. As Lynn was getting ready to have an ultrasound, one of the doctors pulled Bob aside. “In my expert opinion I would not go through with this pregnancy” he said. “You’re wife will not be alive in nine months”. He was advising that they terminate the pregnancy so that Lynn could continue treatment.
Lynn and Bob were Christians and had faith that God would protect Lynn and the baby she was carrying. They believed that “He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it” (Philippians 1:6). Many doctors were certain that terminating the pregnancy was the best decision and tried to convince Lynn and Bob of that. The doctors were worried about the affects the chemotherapy would have on the fetus. The baby could be born with multiple defects and deficiencies, along with learning disabilities and other serious problems, but Lynn and Bob were putting their faith in God and had their minds made up. With their decision to keep the baby, Lynn and Bob had to present the next steps that they were going to take regarding the pregnancy to a board of doctors. The doctors did everything they could to change Lynn and Bob’s decision, but their minds were set.
After nine months of a healthy pregnancy Lynn was induced into labor on May 5, 1994 at Woman and Infants Hospital in Washington, D.C. To the doctors surprise the delivery was normal and went smoothing. That afternoon Lynn gave birth a beautiful baby girl, Ashley Jean Ford. Lynn and Bob thanked God for His blessings in their life and for giving them this healthy baby.
As time passed Ashley grew and Lynn’s cancer got worse. Lynn struggled with everyday tasks and it was hard for her to move around the house. Ashley showed her love to Lynn by helping her when she needed it. If Lynn dropped something, Ashley was right there to pick it up, she was always willing to do whatever her mother needed.
The cancer inside of Lynn was growing and her physical strength was deteriorating. She was now in a wheel chair and would soon have hospice care in her home. She knew her time was near. Lynn prayed often and she always gave thanks to God for the precious gift of Ashley. She wanted to honor God with praise and had two simple requests. First, that God would grant her life until Ashley started school. Second, that when her time came He would take her quickly. Lynn’s one wish was that she would live long enough to see Ashley go to preschool. Just months later Lynn was lying on a hospital bed in her bedroom taking her last breaths. Ashley was outside playing when she heard her father called, “Ashley, come on inside, it’s time to say goodbye to mommy”. She walked into the house not exactly sure of what was going on. Stepping into the bedroom, she saw her mother and her face beamed. “Goodbye mommy. I love you” was all Ashley said.
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