“We did all those tests with the previous two, so we felt like our odds of that ever happening to us were, I mean, pretty much non-existent,” said Will Mortensen.  

Will and Sarah Mortensen had been looking forward to this day in November 2017. Sarah, 38 years old and 10 weeks pregnant, was getting the results of her prenatal screening. Having had two healthy children, the couple expected a good report. They’d also find out if their new addition was a boy or a girl. 

Sarah said, “I was just waiting at the phone to get that call, and sure enough got the call. My doctor said, 'Sarah I need to let you know your baby tested positive for Trisomy 18.' And right away I knew what that meant, basically my child wasn’t going to make it.”

Also known as Edward’s Syndrome, Trisomy 18 is a birth disorder in which babies carry an extra chromosome 18. Of those who do live full term, 90 to 95% don’t survive the first year. 

“I felt like, oh my gosh, I’m going to lose this child. How will I ever be the same? How will I be able to tell my other children? And how will this affect us, you know,” said Sarah. 

Before hanging up, there was still one thing Sarah needed to know. “I said, 'Wait a minute. What did it say that Will and I are having? Are we having a boy or girl?' And she said, 'a girl, Sarah.'"

Later that day, the couple met with Sarah’s doctor.  

Will said, “It was a shock. So, that's all I remember that moment, like learning that information, learning what it was, and preparing ourselves mentally for what could lie ahead. It was just a blur and just a shock.”

The couple were already familiar with Edward’s Syndrome. Each had friends whose babies had the disorder. One died in the womb. The other had numerous challenges. 

Will said, “I think my biggest fear was that like, you know, we're going to be that family that has to live with this, uh, situation where we've got two healthy kids we're trying to raise, but this third child that's requiring every ounce of our time and energy just to keep, you know, keep them alive and what's that going to do to our other children.”

At the doctor’s advice, they scheduled Sarah for an amniocentesis to verify the diagnosis and help them make an informed decision about whether to terminate the pregnancy. While abortion wasn’t an option, the couple wasn’t sure they had the faith to turn it over to God and trust Him for the outcome. At home the next day, Sarah poured her heart out to God. 

“I’m just crying out to him saying, 'Lord, I need a word, Lord, as to what me and Will are supposed to do.'” Sarah said at that moment God spoke to her through the voice of her unborn daughter. “Mommy, tell them to leave me alone. I’m just fine.”

Later, when Will came home from work, he said, "She was so excited when I got home. It was the first thing she said to me that we're not doing the amniocentesis. And I just said, 'God told me the same thing. We're not. That's awesome.' And we just had so much peace after that.”

Sarah cancelled the appointment. They even gave their daughter a name - “Lively Reign.” But now they wouldn’t know whether the baby had the disorder until she was born, if she lived that long. For the next 33 weeks the couple and their family prayed as Sarah continued getting checkups and numerous ultrasounds. Finally, the day came. 

On July 24, 2018, “Lively Reign” was delivered by C section. In the words of Sarah’s obstetrician, the baby was “perfect.” There was no sign of Edward’s Syndrome.

“And it was such a great moment because I just knew that the Lord had told me this was going to be the outcome,” said Sarah.  

Will said, “They put her up on the table, cleaning her off, blocking my view, and then they're finally like, 'okay, come dad.' So, I go over and I just saw, I just saw this beautiful tiny little baby. And I saw 10 fingers, 10 toes. And I just looked back to Sarah, and I was like, 'She looks great. We’re good.'”

“God gave me a miracle. He saved Lively,” said Sarah.  

Lively Reign is five years old and healthy in every way through the power of prayer. 

Will said, “I’m grateful for the blessings that we've received from the Lord. And that's...I just live in that.” 

“And God shows up for you. And if I can tell any parent out there to let God have the final say, gather your information, lay it at His feet, and expect to hear Him,” encouraged Sarah. 
 

Haley Erickson had long lived by the motto: “eat clean, train mean,” but it eventually took over her life. “I was mentally enslaved at that point,” she recalled. Haley had never been happy with her body, or her weight, something she picked up from her mom. “I saw my mom always dieting and talking about what her body looked like and needing to change her body. So as a young girl that really looked up to my mom, I thought that I needed to look a certain way to also be loved and accepted by others.”

In high school, she started eating healthy, dieting, and exercising constantly. “Although I tried to play it off as just being super healthy, and loving to exercise and eat healthy, I knew in my heart that this is not healthy. This is an obsession,” she said. “My life revolved around food and exercise and what my body looked like. Every time I looked at myself in the mirror, there was always something that needed to be better. Whether it was fixing my body or something about my face, it was never good enough.” 

Although she was considered underweight, she was healthy for the most part. In her sophomore year of college, Haley overheard some of her sorority sisters talking about going to the beach for spring break and needing to lose weight. “That seed was planted of, oh I need to lose weight too,” she recalled. “I know subconsciously it was, I just wanted to fit in with these girls and be loved and accepted, and I wasn't even going on the trip with them, but I just wanted to belong.”

Now, she took her obsession of non-stop weight training and counting calories to a new, unhealthy level. This led to many physical and mental health issues. “I was very lonely and sad and felt very isolated,” she said. “The gym was my best friend because I didn't have those solid relationships. Also, it really took a toll on my health physically, but I kept pushing past the pain.”

During Christmas break of her junior year, Haley slipped on black ice and injured her leg. It wasn’t broken, but doctors told her she couldn’t exercise for weeks. The now 20-year-old became desperate. “I begged God to please show me the purpose of my life because everything I was living for was gone. I didn't know why I was here, or what the purpose of my life was, and I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to live anymore.” 

Weeks later, as soon as the pain subsided, Haley was back in the gym. This time she met then 85-year-old Mary Jane. The two hit it off and Mary Jane invited Haley to her home the next day. When the conversation turned to families, Haley shared a picture of hers, explaining she grew up in a Christian home. She didn’t know her new friend was a follower of Jesus. “I asked her, 'are you a Christian?' She cried and I knew that something was missing. I thought, this is why she’s here,” recalled Mary-Jane. Until then, Haley considered herself to be a Christian. Haley said, “Right then and there I heard the Holy Spirit's very clear conviction almost as if it was an audible voice, and the Lord just said, ‘you poser.’ I was claiming to being a follower of Christ because I had gone to church when I was younger, but I definitely did not know Jesus.”

Mary Jane explained God’s plan of salvation through Christ. “I started with John 3:16 and I put her name in it,” she spoke. Haley accepted Christ into her life that day and began to grow in her faith. However, she would continue to obsess over her body image for another three years. Then, at 24, she completely surrendered it to Jesus. “I said, ‘Lord, I don't want anything to do with this anymore. I ask for your healing and that you would show me what it looks like to eat in a way that is glorifying to you.’ Finally, surrendering the food and exercise, I really just let God walk me through this healing journey. The Lord led me to really cling to truth instead of what I thought was my identity and what made me worthy,” she said.

Now a nutrition coach, personal trainer, and public speaker, Haley still likes to stay fit, but says she sees herself through God’s eyes. “The Lord really helped me renew my mind,” she stated. “With seeing who He says I am instead of what I thought made me worthy.”

To learn more about Haley and her holistic nutritional approach, please visit her website: www.HolisticallyHaley.com. You can also check out Haley at her Instagram handle: HolisticallyHaley.
 

Not long after she was born, Kanak developed a slight swelling in her neck. By the time she was three, it had not stopped growing. 

Kanak’s mother said, “We took her to many hospitals. They said the swelling in this gland could eventually kill her if it wasn’t removed. It hurts her and makes her cry, and they said eventually it could swell so much that she would suffocate and die. My husband and I are so worried, but we do not have enough money for surgery.”

Kanak's mother had to take care of her around the clock, so she couldn’t work in the fields. She took Kanak out of school and feared she would get hurt every time she saw her playing. It even hurt for her to eat or drink.

“I love her so much,” said Kanak’s mother. “She is my little princess, but I cannot do anything to help her.”

When Kanak's parents heard about Operation Blessing’s Life Changing Surgeries Program, they reached out to us. Operation Blessing paid for her surgery.

“I am so happy and relieved,” said Kanak’s mother. “Now, she can eat and drink properly. She plays with her friends, and goes to school, and I have no fear she will get hurt. I am working in the fields again and earning a living. Thank you so much for your help. You saved my princess' life.”

Determined to make a meaningful impact, Khon KuChhin, a 31-year-old from Cambodia, enrolled at Tahas Bible School in Kampong Channang. His goal was to deepen his understanding of the Bible and enhance his ministry skills to better assist his pastor. Initially, Khon KuChhin believed that church ministry was primarily focused on adults. He lacked the vision, passion, and ideas to engage with the younger generation, which he saw as a challenging and unmanageable group.

However, Khon KuChhin’s perspective began to shift dramatically when CBN provided Superbook Academy training to all students at his Bible school. This training was a turning point for Khon KuChhin, opening his mind and heart to the importance of children’s ministry. He understood that children are not just a challenging group to manage but a vital part of the church’s future. Inspired and motivated, Khon KuChhin embraced the idea of starting his own children’s ministry after completing his studies at Tahas Bible School.

Khon KuChhin’s newfound passion for children’s ministry is evident in his enthusiastic words: “With the anointing of God, we will be able to do His will in reaching out and discipling the next generation.” He is now a strong advocate for children’s ministry and actively encourages other pastors and ministers to join the Superbook Academy training for Sunday school teachers.

Khon KuChhin is deeply grateful to CBN for changing his perspective and igniting a passion for children’s ministry in his heart. He believes that with God’s guidance and the right training, he can make a significant impact on the lives of young people in Cambodia. 

If you would like to help CBN continue to provide resources to Sunday school teachers through Superbook Academy and reach young lives around the globe with the Gospel, please prayerfully consider giving to CBN Animation’s Superbook ministry through the link below.

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