"Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck" (Psalm 69:1).
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

I entered this world with the odds stacked against me.  My birth mother chose to give me up for adoption before I was born.  I entered this world on March 9, 1989 in a distant village on the Rio Dulce in Guatemala. The doctor immediately noticed that I had a very serious heart condition which was later diagnosed as Pulmonary Atresia (a hole in my heart).  I remained very critical but survived three months in very poor conditions in an orphanage in Guatemala City.  My only chance for survival would be to come to America for a heart operation, if I could survive the plane trip.  The doctor wasn't sure.

At three months of age on June 14, 1989 I was placed into my new mother's arms and immediately won her heart.  But I was a very sick and a blue baby weighing only five pounds.

Within five days after arriving in the U.S. I was admitted to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA and remained there for the next three months. I was very weak, having endured two heart operations and a 6 week IV therapy to treat an infection in my heart after surgery. The doctor told my parents, "We didn't think she was going to make it." My parents had a glorious celebration when I finally came home at seven months, even if I also brought with me oxygen and a feeding tube.

There were three more heart operations I endured over the next three years.  I almost died from one operation and another one made my brain swell and the doctors thought I'd never have a normal life.  There are many stories of God's healings in my life and I thank Him for bringing me through many tough times.  I now have a pacemaker that is very helpful in giving me energy and helping my heart to beat properly.

When I was about seven years old Mom prayed with me in a Sunday School classroom to receive Jesus as my Savior.  I learned a lot about Jesus in Sunday School, children's church and in my classes on Wednesday night.  And even when I listened to my dad preach and my other pastors since living here in Mount Joy.

I've had six heart operations and  lots of heart catheterizations but here I am - 20 years old.  I am a hupernucomen, or overcomer in the greek.  I would like to thank my birth mother for not aborting me.  When I look back over my life I think, "What if Stephen and Brooksyne Weber hadn't adopted me?  Would I be alive?"  I just thank God that I am alive to tell my story.  I want to remind you never give up and trust God for every problem.  He is faithful.

Ester Weber

Brooksyne's Note:  Ester was the fourth child we hosted from Guatemala who came to us through a humanitarian relief program "Healing the Children".  Geisinger brought her through the five heart operations and then we were able to proceed with her adoption which took nearly four years.  "Healing the Children" is not an adoption agency but is a volunteer organization available to children from families overseas who are unable to get the medical treatment needed in their own country.