Thank You, Hashem: One Mother’s Story of Strength and Gratitude

Every couple dreams of one day holding a baby in their arms. Sarah (not her real name) and her husband were no different. Like so many others, they imagined pregnancy, birth, and bringing a healthy child home. But Hashem had something else in store for them—something much more challenging, but also deeply meaningful.

From the beginning, Sarah’s pregnancy was filled with worries and complications. Still, she stayed strong and held onto her emunah (faith) that everything would turn out well. And when her first child was born—a beautiful baby boy—her heart overflowed with joy and gratitude. She lovingly cared for him every day, and for four precious months, everything seemed fine.

Then she noticed something wasn’t quite right. Her baby wasn’t developing like other children his age. Suddenly, her life turned upside down. She found herself constantly at doctor visits and therapy appointments. “My house became a little rehab center,” she said. “Even when I had no strength left, I poured my soul into my child and kept telling him, ‘You can do it!’ The nights were sleepless, and the days were full of treatments. It was so hard.”

Eventually, she brought him to a senior medical professor, who gave a painful diagnosis: cerebral palsy in all four limbs. The doctor gently explained that although this was a serious condition, her son had a strong spark in him—and not to lose hope.

“I was crushed,” Sarah said. “I imagined a life of wheelchairs, silence, and endless limits. I had so many nights where I’d cry and dream of my child running to me and saying the word ‘Mom.’ That was my dream—that one word.”

And yet, even in her deepest pain, Sarah chose to strengthen her faith. “This is my portion from Hashem,” she reminded herself. “It’s not the time to fall apart, but to rise. I prayed and prayed. I kept telling myself that doctors can only try—but Hashem is the real Healer.”

Years passed. It wasn’t quick, and it wasn’t easy. But step by step, day by day, something incredible happened. Her son started to speak. He began to walk. And then one day—he ran to her and called out “Mom.”

“It was the most emotional moment of my life,” Sarah said with tears in her eyes. “That one word… it changed everything. Suddenly I understood how nothing is guaranteed. A healthy child, walking, talking—it’s not something to take for granted. Even when a child spills water or makes a mess, it’s a reason to say thank You. There are parents out there who would give anything to see their child spill water.”

More challenges followed. Sarah became pregnant again, and this time, she was blessed with a healthy daughter. “Only then did I realize how incredible the gift of health really is.”

Her third child brought yet another test: he was born with a cleft palate, which made feeding dangerous. Later, doctors discovered a serious kidney issue, leading to years of hospital visits, tests, and anxiety.

Yet through it all, Sarah clung to her faith and her gratitude. “Unless you’ve lived through it, you can’t imagine the toll this kind of journey takes on a family,” she said. “You stop taking things for granted. A child walking. Talking. Going to school. A regular day. All of it becomes a gift.”

She wants others to understand, too. “If you know someone going through a hard time, don’t say things like, ‘Everyone has struggles.’ Just be kind. Be patient. Even listening can be a healing act. And always remember—no matter what it looks like on the outside, only Hashem truly knows what’s going on inside a person. Only Hashem can heal 100%. He’s waiting for us to turn to Him, to talk to Him, to thank Him.”

Sarah’s message is simple but powerful: “Don’t give up. Keep thanking Hashem—even in the hard times. And if all you do today is pause for a moment to appreciate what you have, that’s already something huge.”

Today, she is still raising two special children and one who struggles with his health. It’s not easy. But she is overflowing with gratitude. “I thank Hashem every day—for life, for health, for my children. For every breath. And for the great kindness that He gave me not just two very special boys—but also one healthy child. That is the greatest blessing of all.”