A young couple who were once encouraged by doctors to abort their little baby girl due to her “fatal” heart condition has returned to the same hospital with their bouncing, healthy child.
Back when their unborn daughter, Amnesty, was developing in the womb, married couple Dusty and Krystal Marshall were told she required urgent surgery to repair her spine.
But, when they made it to the medical center for the operation, they were further informed that their baby girl did not qualify for the surgery on account of a heart defect that she had developed.
Due to the complex medical issues Amnesty was facing, the doctors suggested the couple consider having an abortion.
“Because she had a heart issue, spinal bifida and a clubbed foot, it was possible that she had a chromosomal defect. That really brought up the concern for maybe having an abortion,” Krystal explained in a new video.
But the couple decided to reject the medical advice, accept the risks, grab hold of their faith and choose life for their baby. They were so impressed by the staff at Children’s Hospital Colorado that they chose to move their entire family out there to go ahead with the pregnancy. They welcomed Amnesty into the world on December 18, 2014.
“Even though the doctors had doubts about choosing life with chromosomal issues, that we made the right decision and we didn’t make a decision based on fear – we were blessed in that,” Dusty explained.
Now, in a new video, the couple go and visit many of the medical professionals that were convinced Amnesty wouldn’t make it in this life.
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“We’re going into where Amnesty was born, and we are going to meet with some of the doctors, nurses and ultrasound techs that helped us during our time out there. We are going to share with them how blessed we are to have our daughter, how grateful we are that we chose life and how grateful we are that they took care of our baby girl,” Krystal explained.
“I’m excited that we get to show them the fruit of choosing life,” Dusty added.
Despite the couple being told that Amnesty would unlikely survive her birth, and would certainly not walk, she strolled into the medical center using just a walker for assistance. It was a glorious moment of triumph.
After meeting a number of medical staff members involved in Amnesty’s treatment, including the surgeon who operated on her spine, the couple sat down with one of the cardiac nurses who was monitoring her heart. Then, the woman made a shocking revelation.
Despite being told about the option of aborting their child as a result of her heart condition, this cardiac nurse seemed to suggest that heart issues often resolve after the baby is born. Dustin and Krystal were shocked by her words, as they were never told this before – they were only informed about abortive options.
The nurse also mentioned that the heart issue can be as a result of a bad “hookup” to the placenta – again, something that was new information to the couple.
“The great news is that it didn’t seem to affect her at all,” the nurse continued. “Sometimes we do our best in fetal life to say what we think is happening and what we are seeing with our eyes based on what the specialist has. But sometimes it is not 100%. The good news is that, I mean, look at her!”
She added: “We make a really good, educated prognosis on how we anticipate things to go. But sometimes we can be slightly off center or not 100% right. But I’m really glad in your case it was for the better, for her.”
This faith-filled couple now tours the country with their ministry, Irregular4Christ. Attending various events and festivals, Krystal and Dusty share their staggering testimony and teach people about God’s love for the unborn.
Their website reads:
“With their testimony and music, God truly prepared a platform for Dusty and Krystal to share their message of hope in overcoming addiction, hopelessness, mental illness, and in choosing life for having a daughter born with disabilities. Over the last four years, they have traveled to over 20 states, 200 locations, and reached over 24,000 people.
At each event they have shared personal testimony, lead worship with hip hop music, prayed for those they encountered, and connected many needing recovery to recovery groups across the country. The majority of their opportunities to minister have taken place at Celebrate Recovery groups, juvenile detention centers, and prisons. The door has also been open for them to share at Christian hip hop events, outreaches, and major music festivals.”
Dusty, a Christian songwriter and rapper, explained how he penned an entire song during the ordeal of Amnesty’s battle for life.
“I wrote the majority of Amnesty’s song “Beauty in the Struggle” sitting in this parking lot,” Dusty explained as they rolled up to the hospital. “Feeling the really raw emotions of what I was going through, and what our family was going through right in this place.”
Check out some of the amazing lyrics from the track:
“He set me free to see the beauty in the struggle, fuel to the fire, set the flames to our love.
She was made exactly how she’s supposed to be.
Perfected in his image held my heart like a rosary.
Help, Lord! Teach me to trust you.
Praise you in the storm like I’m dancing in a typhoon.
If I lose, you’re there for me to cry to. Falling is a priveledge cos’ your victory will rise through.”
You can also watch Dusty perform the song here:
The couple has been overwhelmed with prayer and support as they have witnessed the living miracle of Amnesty’s life.
“We just wanted to thank you for joining us on this journey. Thank you to all of the people who were praying for our daughter when she was in my belly, and even now, Krystal said as the couple left the medical center.
“We love you guys. We are so grateful for our God and the miracle he has done in our daughters life, and how he used the doctor’s hands to save her life.”
Watch the couple visit the hospital in their video below: