Bartlett author hopes book comforts, helps families
- Jan 29, 2009
BARTLETT, Tenn. — When Lisa and David Barron’s daughter Madison was born in 1994, Lisa Barron assumed her precious little baby would “one day grow into a little girl, then to sweet 16, on to a young lady and then to a woman.”
That was not the case for Madison Kate Barron.
Madison experienced breathing problems when she was born, but it was not until a few weeks later that it became apparent she had serious health issues.
During Madison’s short time on earth she endured numerous hospital visits, seizures and other medical problems. Yet, before she died in 1999, she also experienced a tremendous amount of love from her parents, siblings, family members and friends.
It took Lisa Barron two years to determine how she would tell Madison’s story and about six years to write the book.
The process ended this year with the publication of Precious In His Sight: A Mother’s Journey of Faith With Her Special Needs Child.
Barron is hopeful that the book will be of special comfort and practical use for families with special needs children.
“I wanted to share with families who deal with these issues now,” Barron said.
Barron noted how difficult it is for families to accept the fact they actually have a special needs child.
“No one came to me at any time after my child’s birth and said, ‘You have a special needs child,’ ” Barron wrote in her book.
“There was no real ‘Aha!’ moment when I figured out what was going on with our precious daughter Madison. It was a gradual process with a sinking feeling that we should be ‘further along’ than we were.”
Barron had an advantage that many mothers of special needs children do not have. She is a neo-natal nurse and her experience helped her in caring for Madison.
Barron readily admits that she was angry and disappointed when she finally accepted the fact that Madison would not become a healthy little girl and experience a full life.
“Hard as it was, I knew I had to work through my grief and make my way toward acceptance. My daughter needed me to be strong and love her exactly the way she was. I wanted our family to be happy and live as normally as possible,” she wrote in her book.
She noted that the first step was to admit to God “I was brokenhearted, disappointed, angry and sad. In my humanness, it was difficult to see these were emotions He experienced too,” she wrote, citing the story of His friend Lazarus.
After coming to that realization, Barron said she was “gradually able to accept what God had given me. Madison was a very special child — like no other. I realized God had a plan for her life and that plan was totally different than mine.”
Barron also learned the hard way that she could not be in control.
“Of course, I had not ever been able to control anything, but this was news to me. I was so exhausted and beaten down. Looking back, it was because I was in a constant battle with God over control of things. Once I stopped fighting Him and welcomed His direction, I felt refreshed and energized,” she recounted in the book.
Throughout the book Barron goes through various steps of the approximately five-year journey and offers observations of things she learned along the way.
“The chief aim of this book is for parents, families and friends to see the blessing of their special child. May they learn to love and enjoy their child in a new and fresh way, just the way God made them.”
Other goals were to help families with special needs children to understand they are not alone and that they need Jesus to see them through.
Secondly, Barron said, she wanted to help friends and families of those with special needs children see what it is like and how they can offer help.
When Madison was almost 2 the Barrons joined Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett because their former church was unequipped to help meet their needs.
Faith Baptist had pediatric nurses among its membership who voluntarily gave their time to sit with Madison so the couple could attend services.
“That lasted for three years,” Barron recalled. “They saw the need and reached out to us.”
Looking back Barron said they had to have child care workers who knew CPR and medical procedures. “That was so amazing that we had so many nurses who knew what to do and weren’t afraid (to care for Madison).”
Barron observed many families with special needs children can’t attend church without help. “Churches need to open their eyes and see the need. It will not happen if members don’t visit and talk to people.” She noted that Faith Baptist became aware of their needs and responded after a visit by deacons.
Barron desires that her book will be of special comfort to families who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. “I hope the book will make a difference in these families,” she said.
She concluded her book with this thought.
“If just one person invites Jesus Christ into her heart and life while reading about our experiences, Madison’s life will not have been in vain. If just one parent learns to find joy in his special needs child’s life, my efforts have not been fruitless.”
For information or to order, contact Barron at lisabarron@bellsouth.net or contact www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.
This article is reprinted from the December 24, 2008, issue of the Baptist & Reflector, the newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.