Story of Caleb John Rainsberry

Caleb: (Hebrew) faithful; brave
John: (Hebrew) honorable
Rainsberry

August 6, 2010 to August 22, 2010
531 hours and 43 minutes

Caleb John Rainsberry was conceived in November 2009. His parents and sister, Patrick, Amber, and Caitlyn Rainsberry were very excited for this new addition to the family.

At the 18 week ultrasound the found out that they were having a boy but that the boy would not survive outside of the womb. Caleb had anencephaly, a very rare birth defect where the skull failed to form. Babies with this condition typically live a few hours, maybe a few days, or are stillborn.

After much thought, research, and prayer, Pat and Amber decided to continue the pregnancy to full term with the hope of some kind of miracle OR at least a few hours of seeing baby Caleb alive. The love, prayers, and support of friends, family and even strangers, along with God’s holy spirit, kept Pat, Amber, Caitlyn strong over the last 22 weeks of the pregnancy.

Caleb was born on Friday, August 6th at 8:17am at San Antonio Community Hospital. The family rushed to get as many photos as they could not knowing how many hours they would have him, we were told to expect about 2 hours. Well 10:17am came and went and Caleb was still thriving…we celebrated his life at 2 days, 3 days, 4 days and were blessed to bring him home on Monday, August 9th.

The pediatrician told us he would probably live for one week, we were so grateful for the hope of having him for one week! Well one week passed and he was still with us! We hoped he would make it until Sunday so we could bring him to church with us and share this miracle with our Water of Life family. Little Caleb made it to that Sunday service and to the next one too! His story was shared with thousands of people at Water of Life Community Church.

The days he spent with us were filled with love. We think he may have been the most held baby that ever lived…he was held almost every minute of his life…for 531 hours or 31,860 minutes. He had visitors almost every day, and hundreds of people who reached out and told us how meaningful and touching his story was to them.

Caleb’s life had a purpose, God enabled us to let him fulfill that purpose, and even though his life was what some might call short, 22 days, it was a full life, a meaningful life, and its effects have spread farther than we will ever know.

We feel privileged to be the parents of Caleb John Rainsberry, whose life touched so many others.

"We may not see now the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall say, 'All things have worked together for good.'" -Unknown