He had "zero" chance of living: a baby's miraculous recovery

Synthèse :

Michael Schachle, from Tennessee, USA, was not expected to live. At nineteen weeks of intrauterine life, he was diagnosed with trisomy 21 and foetal hydrops - a serious condition causing significant swelling in the lungs, heart and/or abdomen. While some babies with foetal hydrops alone can survive after birth, the combination of hydrops and trisomy 21 is synonymous with a death sentence.

"There's nothing we can do; he won't survive. We can induce labor now, or you can wait and let nature take its course, but he will die." These were the devastating words spoken to Michael's parents. But the parents, fervent defenders of life and already parents of twelve children, had another plan in mind. Refusing to bring about the death of their child, they chose to pray for a miracle.

Daniel, Michael's father, works as an insurance agent for the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic charity. He and his wife Michelle decided to pray specifically for the intercession of the Knights' founder, Father Michael McGivney: "As a father, I couldn't see myself in the role of killing my child. I resented being asked to do so."

The parents never asked for Michael to be cured of trisomy 21, only of foetal hydrops, as Michael's father explains: "We never thought for a second that trisomy 21 was a problem.We were going to love him as God had created him. Our prayers were always focused on one thing: "Lord, save our baby". It had nothing to do with chromosomal abnormalities; we saw them as a gift. For years, our children participated in the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll fundraisers to help people with disabilities. It would be absurd to say, 'This is unacceptable', after devoting so many years to defending people like him." His mother, Michelle, also confirms his words: "We prayed that the hydrops would disappear so that he could live. We just wanted him to live."

Events took an extraordinary turn when the couple embarked on a pilgrimage to Europe, despite the gloomy medical prognosis. Through subtle signs and moments of grace that seemed orchestrated by a divine hand, their faith grew stronger and they became convinced that they had to keep hoping for divine action. The turning point came during a trip to Fatima in Portugal, where the Virgin Mary had appeared to three young shepherds in 1917.

Back in the United States, as the due date approached and the anxiety remained, Michelle went with her husband to a prenatal ultrasound scan at twenty-three weeks' gestation. Defying all medical explanation, their prayers were answered: the foetal hydrops had mysteriously disappeared.

Michael was born prematurely by caesarean section on 15 May 2015 : he was named Michael in honour of Venerable Father Michael McGivny, the founder of the Knights of Columbus. This healing, described as a miracle by the ecclesiastical authorities, led to the beatification of Father Michael McGivny on 27 May 2020 by Pope Francis.

Au-delà des raisons d'y croire :

These miraculous healings bear witness to and confirm the words of Jesus: "In truth, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I am going to the Father" (Jn 14:12).

The inability to scientifically explain the many healings that occur at the invocation of the name of Jesus is a solid reason to believe in the truth of the Christian faith.

Aller plus loin :

On the Catholic New Agency website, the article: "Meet Michael McGivney Schachle, the miracle baby who helped make his namesake a Blessed"

En savoir plus :

• The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council video: "Baby Miraculously Healed through the Intercession of Our Founder Father McGivney"