What's in a Name?

The night before Mark and I found out that we were having a boy, we had a visit from an old friend, Matt Shaw. Matt (Matthew) was a missionary who served his mission for our church in Napa, back when I was pregnant with Isabella.  Mormon missionaries typically spend a few months in any area they are assigned to, and then are transferred around to work in various parts of the geographical boundaries covered by their mission. They meet lots of different people and families, but I would say, having served a mission, that there are very few people, in the 18 months or 2 years that you serve, with whom you truly bond, in part, because missionaries move around (by design) so much.

Matt Shaw, and his missionary companion, Roby McNeel, were an exception in the case of our family. It just so happened that they were transferred back to our area, and reassigned as companions (rare) and served in various leadership positions, which made it possible for them to be part of many life-changing experiences for our family.

To name a few:
They administered a blessing of health to Isabella when she was a newborn in the hospital.
They participated in her baby blessing.
They taught Mark the missionary lessons and were part of his baptism.
They helped us move-- twice.
They returned (after their missions) to be the official witnesses of our temple sealing.

Roby is now married and lives on his ranch in Wyoming. Matt has graduated from college and has been back to visit us a few times in the past couple of years.

When he came to our house the night before I was to have my ultrasound, Mark and I said nothing to him about the fact that we knew that there was a chance our baby would have Down syndrome. It just seemed too emotional, despite the fact that Matt Shaw had seen us through so many personal events in our lives.

The following morning, Mark and I drove out to Oakland for our appointment. When we were finished, we knew two things about our baby: 1) we were having a boy and 2) something wasn't right with him. The ultrasound showed two abnormalities and the doctors shocked us with the possibility that our baby could have a very serious, even fatal genetic condition.

Mark and I stood stunned in the parking garage waiting for our car to be brought to us. Mark wrapped his arms around me and asked me if I'd thought of any names for a boy.

"No." I told him. It was too hard for me to think about it in that moment.

Then Mark said, "What about Matthew?"

That made me smile. I loved Mark's sentiment and knew that our baby could be named after someone very special to our family.  I told Mark that was a great suggestion, but I really felt our baby needed a strong name since he might have a lot of things working against him in this life.

When we returned home, I researched the meaning of the name 'Matthew'. It is a Hebrew name, whose meaning is: 'Gift of God'.  I did not need to think on it anymore.

That was our last visit from Matt Shaw until this past week, when we got a phone call from him that he was in town.

Matthew finally got to meet Matthew!

Happy Day!