Sue Darroch and Matthew Didier's Paranormal Blog

Normally on Fridays we feature the cases that we have personally investigated over the years that are amongst our favourites. Topics include ghosts & hauntings, UFOs, and other Fortean subjects.

However, today I thought I would share a highly personal experience with you gentle reader. Is it a miracle? I'll let you be the judge....

In 1995 I gave birth two months prematurely to my youngest daughter. The pregnancy had been very difficult, and due to a placental abruption I had been on bed rest for almost the entire duration. Words cannot really describe my utter despair and loneliness throughout that time. If you have been through something similar you will have a good idea as to how I felt.

I was raised an Atheist, and became an Agnostic as I struggled to find what I felt was missing in my life. During this last pregnancy I found myself doing what I had never done before. I prayed. I prayed daily and thanked God or whoever the higher power might be for granting us one more day that this pregnancy continued....

After the initial terror of giving birth too early, I quickly realised that medical science could indeed work it's own miracles. My daughter was healthy and doing very well under the care of the staff at Mount Sinai's level three, neo-natal, intensive care unit. She was eventually transferred out of Mount Sinai to a more local hospital to where I lived at the time, and after 5 long weeks I was finally able to bring her home in time for the holidays!

My joy was short-lived though....

After two weeks of being home my baby girl developed what at first appeared to be a cold. I was already an experienced Mom and thought I could handle it in the usual way. However by December 23rd she began to projectile vomit her meals. It was at that time fearing dehydration I rushed her back to the local hospital.

Upon our arrival we were told after a quick check of her condition that there was no room at the inn so to speak and that she would have to be taken to a larger facility a few miles away. And we did just that ... seemingly waiting for hours to be seen by emergency room staff.

At this second hospital the on staff physician quickly admitted her and she was swept away to the isolation ward. His diagnosis was that she had contracted RSV or Respiratory syncytial virus. Healthy children and adults can usually cope with it with little issue, but for the elderly and newborns (particularly preemies) it can be deadly.

During the course of the night my daughter worsened. By mid-afternoon of Christmas Eve she had stopped breathing on her own and required resuscitation. The doctors prepared us for the possibility that she could die.

I became hysterical .... the horror and the pain I felt then almost as fresh as I type this now ... tears streaming down my face...

I screamed at God with pent up anxiety and venom ... Why???? ... I prayed to you, I begged you through my pregnancy ... and now you are taking her from us today ... Christmas......

So the hysterical Agnostic was forcibly taken to the "quiet room" ... I kicked and screamed the entire way ... I wanted to be with my child. It was only much later that scientific Sue grasped exactly why staff needed me out of there so that they could do their job in attempting to keep my daughter alive.

I was put in the "quiet room" and told the hospital chaplain was on his way to speak with me ... I was left completely alone.

In my horrible grief I fell to my knees and beseeched a God that I wasn't sure even existed to help my baby to live. And then it happened .... I went completely calm as if all stress had left my body, and I heard a voice.

It was external, right beside me as if someone had leaned over to whisper in my ear .... and the voice said, "Susan, she will be alright, it is not her time, she will be fine. "

I had no idea where this voice was coming from ....I was alone and there was only one exit/entrance in this very small room. Yet, I knew...I was not alone after all ......

When asked to describe this voice I can only say it was very musical. I have no idea if it were a male or female. However, I can tell you it was beautiful ... and I knew ... I knew in my heart it told the truth

Within a few short minutes the hospital chaplain arrived with my now ex-husband. And I can only imagine their shock at seeing me seated on my knees in the middle of the floor, grinning ear to ear like the Cheshire cat.

Late that very evening my daughter was transferred to the Hospital for Sick Children here in Toronto. She was treated and made a full recovery in six days. Christmas Day 1995 was spent in a hospital, but was the most joyous day I have ever experienced in my life ...I felt I was given a miracle.

As an after note ... I will concede that at the time I heard the voice I had been awake for over 48 hours. I can easily try to rationalise that what I heard was just an auditory hallucination produced by an over tired and extremely anxiety ridden mind .... but I can't do that....

In my heart I was given a gift, a Christmas miracle...by what or by who I do not know ....

And I hope that within my retelling you of our experience that you dear reader might hug your own precious miracles a little tighter this coming Christmas Eve.....and always...

On behalf of Matthew, our family and myself we wish you a very Merry Christmas, and the Happiest New Year!

We will be returning next Friday with more strange tales of the paranormal.......