Dear Friends,
My guess is that just about every reader of Cottage Blessings knows and loves Helen through her blog "Castle of the Immaculate" and the popular "Mary Vitamin." She and I have been friends since college and became closer still when we both had baby girls around the same time thirteen years ago.
Since then, Helen has adopted six more beautiful children, so that we are each blessed to be mothers of seven young ones, all about the same age.
Several weeks ago, Helen shared the news of a miracle. After thirteen years, she is expecting again, and her baby is due on January 21, the Feast of Our Lady of Altagracia, a date holding very special significance for us both. [Helen's Marian Friendship Board at 4Real, "Hidden Treasure," began on January 21, 2007 and was dedicated to Our Lady of Altagracia in honor of the Feast. It seems like only yesterday, we were on the phone discussing plans for the patronage of the Board. After consulting a calendar, Helen said, "I have never heard of this title for Our Lady, but I always trust her to make the selection." Hearing that Our Lady of Altagracia is the patron of the Dominican Republic, I quipped, "Well, Helen, I know where your next baby will be adopted from!" We shared a laugh over that, little knowing that Our Lady had a plan even more surprising and miraculous than this.]
Helen had a sonogram yesterday, and the doctor expressed some concern for the baby. While her precious one is lively and doing well, Helen has a serious hemorrhage. This along with low progesterone puts her at high risk of a miscarriage. Somehow, it is not surprising that the Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Loreto Cottage is going on for Helen right now. Our Lady knew all those months ago (back in November) exactly when she and her family would most need prayers.
Please keep Helen wrapped in prayer during this Novena and throughout the next few months, perhaps asking your friends and family to join in. For those of you who would like to participate in the Novena, please use this link.
I am looking forward to greeting this precious gift from Heaven in January!
Praying!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 09, 2007 at 04:11 PM
Prayers going out for baby and mom.
Posted by: Essy | July 09, 2007 at 04:27 PM
Oh dear!! Praying here too.
Posted by: Melanie | July 09, 2007 at 05:01 PM
Oh prayers here.
Posted by: Maryan | July 09, 2007 at 05:02 PM
Praying for Helen and her baby!
Posted by: Christine | July 09, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Thank you for this beautiful post and this particular line:
"Well, Helen, I know where your next baby will be adopted from!" We shared a laugh over that, little knowing that Our Lady had a plan even more surprising and miraculous than this.]"
I will be praying constantly for Helen and her baby to Our Blessed Mother that all will be well.
Posted by: aussieannie | July 09, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Praying fervently. Why do I just know all will be well?
~smiling~
Posted by: Lynn | July 09, 2007 at 07:00 PM
I will continue to keep Helen and her baby in my prayers.
Posted by: Ruth | July 09, 2007 at 07:20 PM
Alice, thank you for sharing with us so we can carry Helen in prayer. She will be in prayers throughout the day(s). I will happily implore Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, her feast is my Carmen's birthday and why she is named Carmen.
Posted by: Maria Ashwell | July 09, 2007 at 07:31 PM
Oh I am so sad to hear this news! Thank you for letting us know. I know all to well the grief of losing babies: I will be keeping Helen and her baby in my prayers.
Posted by: Beth | July 09, 2007 at 07:35 PM
Alice, I've marveled at how timely the novenas from Loreto Cottage are. It amazes me how the novenas are much needed for each person when they are said. It's even more amazing that these people were placed on the list just by happenstance of the order they commented. It gives me goosebumps!!!
I will keep Helen in my prayers daily.
Posted by: KC | July 09, 2007 at 09:10 PM
I am praying for Helen and her little one.
Posted by: Rebecca | July 09, 2007 at 09:53 PM
I am praying for Helen and her baby.
Posted by: Jeanne Marie | July 09, 2007 at 10:50 PM
Praying fervently,pleading for mercy.
Posted by: Kimberlee | July 09, 2007 at 10:52 PM
Wow! After thirteen years! We will pray. Thanks for letting us know.
Posted by: Suzanne Temple | July 09, 2007 at 11:09 PM
I was so excited to hear of Helen's little one...I will step up my prayer efforts for both of them. Thank you for posting this need.
Posted by: Marie C | July 09, 2007 at 11:42 PM
It was nice to hear these stories. I will keep Helen and her baby in my prayers.
Posted by: Cheryl | July 10, 2007 at 08:07 AM
Thank you Alice and everyone. Your prayers bring me much consolation.
Posted by: Helen (Mary Vitamin) | July 10, 2007 at 08:57 AM
These words are very hard for me to read (not the happy narrative but rather, the doctor's concerns) so yes, I most certainly will be praying.
We love you, Helen!
Posted by: Margaret in Minnesota | July 10, 2007 at 08:59 AM
Praying! Praying! Praying!
Posted by: Kathryn | July 10, 2007 at 03:05 PM
i most certainly will pray for helen and her baby. while she doesn't know it, i'm sure, helen has had such a profound influence in my life.
Posted by: Account Deleted | July 10, 2007 at 08:56 PM
I have such a special feeling for Helen, and I have been praying for her and the babe, but now I will redouble my prayers. May God bless her.
Posted by: Mrs Pea | July 11, 2007 at 04:35 AM
I will keep her in my prayers, also. I am due just a week later! God willing, we will both be welcoming our little ones in January!
Posted by: Mary Beth P | July 11, 2007 at 02:09 PM
Texas-sized prayers coming for Helen and her precious one...
Posted by: Jennifer in TX | July 14, 2007 at 11:55 AM