October 9, 1995, our 5th child, Myles Joseph Swella was born, in love, at our home. Our daughter, Meghan Juliet, was born August 29, 1987, beautiful and full of life. Our son, Matthew James, was born April 6, 1989. He died 10 months later of an undiagnosable, untreatable kidney and liver disorder. Our daughter, Marissa Joy, was born January 7, 1991, only to die five and a half hours later of the same condition as her brother.

Even though we were devastated, our faith, though tested, was strengthened and we trusted that the Lord would give us desires of our heart. Mariya Joanne entered the world on July 6, 1992, a perfectly healthy, beautiful baby girl . Guy sang at Mariya's baptism. What a time of celebration!

When I became pregnant with Myles, I asked Guy who had since moved from the area, if he would sing at this new baby’s baptism. Not only did he agree to sing but said he would write a special song for the occasion. Two weeks after Myles was born, our worst fears were realized when it was discovered that he, too, had the same fatal condition as his brother and sister before him.

What started out to be a song of joy and gladness turned into a song of hope and celebration of eternal life. Finishing the song just hours before Myles’ Celebration of Life service, Guy sang “Stand By My Child”, Lord for the first time. It is a song of hope, that even though we are faced with tragedies and sorrow, we have God’s promise that He will be with our children and we will all be together someday soon.

It is my prayer that the words of this song give you comfort and peace. My children, all of my children, have taught me beauty, strength, faith, love, and acceptance given through our Lord Jesus Christ. But most of all, they have shown me hope.

Phil. 4:13; Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 56:3,4; Job 22:21; 2 Cor. 1:3,4.