A KID’S COMPANY

Left to right: Caleb, Christian and Colby play on the floor at Pumpkin Center Elementary school where their mother will return for a new school year. Christian was born 14 weeks premature, but is now healthy and strong. Amy Wadsworth / LTN Photo

Christian sits on his mother’s lap and helps himself to some Cheerios.
His eyes light up, and he smiles when his mother kisses his cheek.
He is a pretty face and is known to many around him as “the miracle baby.”
Bonnie Brown has been by his side since he came into this world premature, 14 weeks early to be exact.
The doctors told Brown her child would have 50/50 chance of surviving.
They just had to wait.
Brown, who is the music teacher at Pumpkin Center Elementary School, had to take a leave of absence for a year and three months, to care for Christian.
She said it was tough, but God was by her side.
“A lot of people prayed all over the place,” Brown said. “That’s what got us through.”
Christian was born April 4, 2003. He weighed only two pounds and had to stay in intensive care for 71 days.
Lying beside a Beanie Baby in a picture taken when he was only a week old, Christian appears smaller than the stuffed toy.
Each day Brown would go to the hospital to see him, sometimes twice a day, praying that he would be able to come home soon.
“I had a lot of time to reflect in my spiritual walk. I just had to trust God that Christian was going to make it,” she said.
Christian, now 15-months, weighs 19 pounds and four ounces. Although small for his age, he is well on his way to recovery.

Bonnie Brown, the music teacher at Pumpkin Center Elementary, and 15-month-old Christian take a break to eat some cheerios Monday afternoon. Due to Christian being born premature, Brown had to take a year and three month leave of absence in order to care for herself and her baby. Amy Wadsworth / LTN Photo

“He is starting to walk and is cruising his way on the furniture,” she said laughing.
Brown is preparing to come back to work and get back to her old life.
“It is definitely going to be an adjustment,” she said. “We will just have to stick to a schedule.”
Christian isn’t her only child; she also has two adopted children from Vietnam, twins Caleb and Colby.
“They have been great with Christian,” she said. “They love their brother.”
Although it will be hard to leave the children, Brown welcomes the change.
“I’m excited to get back in a routine of seeing the (school) kids again,” she said. “It will be nice to be on a schedule.”
Brown has considered adopting again.
“I have always liked the idea of adopting,” Brown said. “There are so many children who need a good home.”
She is happy that God chose to give her both.
“He chose to bless us with adopted children and a birth child,” she said.by Amy Wadsworth