Rachel and I sat together in her doctor’s office, hand in hand, as the OBGYN slowly delivered the worst news.
Two weeks earlier, a routine ultrasound had raised an unexpected concern with our new baby’s development. The doctor ordered genetic testing, a recommendation which required our family to travel to Guatemala City. With Rachel’s bloodwork drawn, the sample was sent to the United States for processing, and we were sent back home to Xela, to wait.
Wyatt, I’m sorry your baby announcement has to go this way. While your sisters were each celebrated with shiny ultrasound pictures and cheerful congratulations, your announcement comes alongside your parents’ plea for prayer and peace.
So, as the doctor slowly delivered the news of our fourth child’s diagnosis, Rachel’s hand gripped tighter to mine. The genetic testing had come back, and the results, along with early signs of physical abnormalities on the ultrasound, confirmed a rare genetic disorder.
Edwards Syndrome, Trisomy 18.
It’s been two weeks since we received the news. We still have a lot to learn about what this diagnosis means for our family, but we’re taking each day, each moment, at a time. From what the doctor has told us, the chances of meeting our son alive are very low, and if we are blessed with the opportunity to hold him, the odds of him living past his first week are even lower.
But here’s the simple truth: none of this is a surprise to God. We’ve cried ourselves to sleep, begging for some answer to the unanswerable, and He has heard every word. And in His Word, we’ve found comfort. Wyatt’s life is precious to Him, and we are trusting in a plan infinitely greater than anything we can see or understand. No matter the answer, no matter how long we have with Wyatt here on earth, his diagnosis is not a surprise to our God.
“For you 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. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Psalm 139:13-16
Please pray for Wyatt, by name, that he will fulfill every purpose God has for his life, no matter how long or short it may be.
Please pray for our family, especially our girls, as we walk through this with heavy hearts and open hands. Pray for Rachel to remain healthy, and for her body to stay strong and her heart stronger.
And please pray that, in all of this, the gospel would be made known. May our grief, our hope, and even our waiting point others to the goodness of Jesus.
With Love,
Tyler, Rachel, Asher, Graycen, Wrenley, and Wyatt
The English Update 
I am praying now for your family. 🤍
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Thanks so much!
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My prayers for baby Wyatt and for the family. I’ll lift you all up in tomorrow’s prayer meeting.
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Thank you!
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We will be praying for your sweet baby boy!
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Thank you, Emily!
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Praying peace and comfort for ALL of you.
Dana & Michael💕🙏
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Thank you!
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Rachel and Tyler, I will be praying for your little Wyatt and your whole family as you navigate this difficult place. I am praying for GOD’s peace. I am reminded of Is. 26:3 & 4 that has brought me comfort through the years, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” We will pray for you on our Prayer Zoom on Monday evenings as well. Love & prayers, Dale Lucy
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Thank you so much!
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Rachel and Tyler Iam praying for little Wyatt and your family
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Thank you!
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sending lots of love to y’all. We chose the same verses for Ethan’s life verse. There’s a lot of comfort in those words. Little Wyatt’s life, no matter what, is full of meaning and purpose. God’s got this (and your sweet family). It may be hard to feel it now but you will get to the other side of the hurt and look back and see God’s hand through it all. In the meantime, know that yall are loved and prayed over by many. Hugs!
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Thank you so much! We really appreciate it!
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Keeping little Wyatt and all of you in my prayers.
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Thank you!
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Rachel and Tyler, I join you in praying for your family, especially for Rachel and for Wyatt right now. I pray He will Comfort your hearts and give you His Peace in knowing He Cares deeply for all of you, every need. I pray you will draw from His Strength and Power, His All Knowing Wisdom, and that you will know that His Hand of Protection, His Love are on you and Rachel, Wyatt, your girls, your family, and your ministry.
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Thank you so very much!
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All of you are in my prayers including baby Wyatt.
Love you all, Sharon
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Thanks so much!
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So deeply encouraged by the steady confidence in which you guys are walking through this season. We are praying for each of you Tyler, Rachel, Asher, Graycen, Wrenley, and for Wyatt as his little body continues to develop. Thank you for sharing such an intimate part of your lives and an incredible piece of your testimony with us.
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Thank you so much!
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Love you guys
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Love y’all too!
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Praying for you all.
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Thanks so much!
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Sweet prayers for baby Wyatt. 🩵 May God’s comfort and love strengthen you. Love and hugs
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Thank you!
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We understand this is HARD news to receive. In your place, we would be crying too. May the Lord, whose first act after creating was to bless, grant you the blessings of comfort and peace. And may He guard Rachel’s health. Sue and Roger Key
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Thanks so much!
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Hello My Sweet Friends,
I know that there really are no words that I can write here that will bring you the comfort that you desperately need. I will attempt it though.
Heavenly Father,
My heart is heavy as I bring Wyatt to your throne today. He is your creation and as Tyler and Rachel have said, you already know about his diagnosis. I ask you, how can this be? How can you allow this precious boy to be afflicted with this disease? I know that answer already, that we are living in a world that is filled with sin and the fall of man has caused this. However, I do know that you long to make all that right. You sent your Son to correct the damage. To heal the disease of sin. Thank you Father for doing this. I know that you lost your Son, so you know exactly how to prepare and heal the hearts of this precious family. I also know that you stand above all that the world hands out and that you are in control. That means that you have the ability to correct this for Wyatt. You have the ability to defy all logic and human understanding and repair the DNA that has been corrupted. Father, I humble ask you to do this for Wyatt. I know that your ways are higher than mine, but I don’t mind begging you to do this for Wyatt and the family. I also, know that you don’t always give me what I want, so I am asking that if you so choose not to heal him in this manner, that you would please give the English family the ability to love Wyatt right now. To love him while he is still in his mother’s womb. To let them deeply know him and to be connected to him. If you choose to bring him home, really before he even has a chance to live on this earth, I will give you praise. I can only do this because I KNOW that you are good. This is not a good thing, but you are always GOOD. You want good things for us, so if this is how you choose to bring goodness into Wyatt’s life and the rest of the family, will you please help them to heal. Please help them to know how to survive during this. Please help to feel your presence and to know the peace that only you can provide. We are crying out to you. You tell us in your Word that you have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Father, I don’t know your plan for those tears, but oh how I thank you that not ONE of them is lost to you. You catch each one, and you don’t let it fall to the ground. Thank you for this. Thank you for intimately knowing us, and caring for us.
Please let the English’s know that they are loved, not only by you, but also by me.
I ask all of this in your Son’s precious name,
Amen.
I love you guys! I am kneeling, crying, and pouring out my requests on your behalf.
Thank you for allowing me to share in all your trials, and hopefully in all the victories.
Huge hugs coming your way.
Love,
Karen Caskey
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Thank you so much for this, Karen!
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May God be glorified by Wyatt’s life! I pray that your family will see the glory each day!
Bobbie Moser
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Thank you!
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Praying for Wyatt & that his life will glorify God today & forever! God loves you all & He is always with you!
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Thanks so much!
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🙏🏻
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Thank you!
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My heart hurts with you to read this devastating news! Praying for you and the girls and precious Wyatt! God’s loving kindness prevails and Wyatt’s life purpose will also prevail. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Grade is my faithfulness oh Lord.Love, Marilyn
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
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Thank you so much!
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Tyler and Rachel,
We are heartbroken to hear about Wyatt’s diagnosis, and we can’t begin to imagine the weight of what you’re carrying right now. Please know that we are holding your family so close in our hearts and lifting you up in prayer.
Even in the midst of this sorrow, we believe Wyatt’s life has deep meaning and purpose. He is fearfully and wonderfully made, and his story, no matter how long or short, is already testifying to God’s goodness, love, and presence. We celebrate his life with you. He is your son, your precious fourth baby, and he matters so much.
We are praying for strength, peace, and moments of joy in the middle of the pain. We’re also asking for God’s nearness to be tangible and for His comfort to meet you in every hard moment.
With love and hope,
The Marble family
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Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement!
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Dear Tyler and Rachel,
This is Marshall Blalock from FBC of Charleston. We met at a company dinner a couple of years ago. We are praying for y’all and baby Wyatt. Reading your story, you both have a deep understanding of God’s goodness and grace in the midst of this heartbreak. Our hearts break for you and with you.
This past Christmas we got word that my wife Cathy has stage four lung cancer, an unexpected gut punch. The cancer had invaded her brain and her bones throughout her body, not good news. As we processed this, Cathy received one word from God: “Do not be afraid.”
We have been amazed at the power of those words from God which call us to trust ever more deeply in our good and gracious Savior.
My one encouragement to you today:* Whatever word God gives you, walk in it*. Let it flood your soul over and over. Let it become a light to your children and your colleagues….and maybe most of all to one another. Reading your story, you have heard from God, I can tell. Live in that Word from God, you can trust him.
Again, we stand before the throne on your behalf,
Marshall
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Thank you so much for sharing your story and encouragement!
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Queridos amigos, I can’t imagine what you must be feeling, but I want you to know that I am here to accompany you in whatever you need. Les mando un abrazo lleno de fuerza desde México.
-Karen
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¡Muchas gracias!
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I’m so so sorry. I’m sending lots of love and prayers to your entire family. ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
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I’m so so sorry. Sending all the love and prayers to you guys. ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
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Thank you so much, Nick!
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