The Karunaratne family from Sri Lanka
We are a expat family from Sri Lanka, living in UAE and this is our story…
In the year 2017 my wife Judy, our son Yehel, who was 2 years at that time, and I returned back to the UAE after a family vacation spent in Sri Lanka. Once we were back my wife told me that she was not feeling well. We went to see a doctor and discovered that she was pregnant, 3 months. This was a big and a wonderful surprise for us as we were not expecting a baby. Days passed by and when we did a scan we found out that our baby is a girl and diagnosed with Down syndrome and multiple heath issues. Doctors gave a us the worst case scenarios. By that time we had heard her heart beat and seen a glimpse of her face through the scans.
Being GOD loving family we were devastated thinking what would our future be. We were seeking guidance from GOD, advice from our church reverend and my wife’s brother in law who was a pastor. They said “If GOD has blessed this child for us and HE will provide and guide us”. This time for us was a roller coaster, so much sadness and at the same time a hope that all will be ok.
Weeks passed by and every time when we were at the doctors we didn’t get any good news and our pregnancy was marked as high risk. But we kept our faith in GOD.
One day when I was at work I received a message from our church secretary who did not know what we were going through as she was out of the country. The message was a scripture from the Holy Bible “1Samuel 12:16. “Now then stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes”. My wife and I prayed daily reminding the world of GOD Pslams 139:13-14 what GOD said and promised us, “For your created my Inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
On the 25th of May 2018 at 5:20 pm our little baby Mikayla Abigail Yehali Karunarantne was born. Soon as she came out just as a normal baby she stated crying. My wife Judy was carrying our baby, prayed for her and delivered her without any difficulty. Mikayla spent 17 days in the ICU and we took her home to see her brother. He liked her new little baby sister.
Due to Mikayla’s health conditions we had to get special attention and medical care for her. Along the way we met people who have helped us and guided us to take a care of her. For this day I believe that GOD placed his angels to provide us. For instance, Mikayla’s therapy was not covered by insurance but a kind doctor provided her therapy without any cost. Because of Mikayla we got to know people who are so kind heated and reminded us what GOD promised us and there are many kind hearted people living among us in this world.
Mikayla will be celebrating her 3rd birthday on the 25 of this month . Her health is normal, she has regular occupational and speech therapy. She loves dancing and playing with water. She is a very loving child and brings so much joy in to our lives. We know that Mikayla will do well in her life and share her story and do GOD’s work.
Thank you!
The best way to promote awareness of Down syndrome is for people with Down syndrome to share their own stories in their own words.
If you have a story that you would like to share with the world, please click here: SHARE YOUR STORY