STUDENT SPOTLIGHT:
Rachel Gravioto
by Rachel’s Mom, Margarita
(translated by Jodi Howe)
When I was 6 months pregnant
the doctor told me that my baby
was not growing like other babies.
He said there were complications
in my pregnancy and that Rachel
had abnormal development of
her intestines and lungs. He said
that she might not grow another
pound and she would most likely
die shortly after her birth. When
I heard this I felt like I wanted to
disappear. We didn’t want this; we
didn’t want our baby to struggle
or suffer. I was crushed, but at the
4 | THE BEACON
same time knew that God would
carry us. I told the doctor that even
if he thought she would not live
a day, I would wait and see what
God’s plan was for her. I have
always trusted in God, but that
does not mean I did not struggle
and cry a lot of tears.
I was in the hospital on bed-rest
the month before she was born
and on November 24, 2010 Rachel
came into the world. The doctors
told me she was not breathing
well and she was delivered via
an emergency C-section. She
weighed 4lbs 2oz and was
immediately put into an incubator. She
had so many tubes in her tiny body
that it hurt to look at her because I
didn’t want her to suffer. I was scared
to see her and spend time with her
because I was afraid she was going to
die. But she didn’t die; she kept living.
One of the things I love most about
Rachel is how much she fought to be
alive, how much she fought to be here
with us. My husband had an amazing
amount of faith when she was born
and his model of faith helped me trust
God’s plan.
Rachel moved from the NICU into a
clinic on March 10, 2011 and stayed