Page 5 - Glory & Grace Issue 2 ~ King of Glory Lutheran Church
P. 5
PAGE 5
Jim and Karen Merchant have two children, Ashley and Michael. Ashley married Kyle Brano and together they dreamed of starting a family. After experiencing fertility challenges, Ashley and Kyle became pregnant with twins. The twins were born unexpectedly at 25 weeks, 2 days. Chase was 2 lbs 4 oz. Ryley was 1 lbs 14 oz. The heartbreak for Karen and Jim as new grandparents was being unable to hold them. Chase and Ryley are now 4 1⁄2.
Donning full gowns (long before COVID), they were able to assist at the hospital and support Ashley and Kyle in a variety of ways. Karen remembers flying on a chartered plane at 3am to Salt Lake City after Ryley was transferred there, staying at the Ronald McDonald House with Ashley. Kyle remained at St. V’s caring for Chase, Jim went to work each day at First Interstate Bank, and KOG began to pray for the babies & for all who would have a hand in their care.
Helping others is not new to Karen and Jim, noting that their understanding of family has always been broad. Before becoming grandparents, they were bus chaparones for many out of state Key Club conferences. Jim remembers how his mother, Viola, once met them and a bus full of 45 high school students with 300 homemade chocolate chip cookies. "She didn't care that these kids weren't hers. She wanted to make everyone feel at home," Jim shared. Throughout our lives "we've realized that life takes a family; being part of a family."
“It takes a village to raise these kids," Jim says. On the weekends, Karen and Jim care for their grandchildren roughly 75% of time, or take one of them so Kyle and Ashley can have some one-on-one time with the other child. Every morning, Karen does Facetime with the grandkids and talks to them every night. The twins receive additional support from caring specialists in Billings and beyond. “Even now, KOG people know my babies and that really makes a difference," says Karen.
"There is still uncertainty for the future," Jim says. "We call it the 'I don't know syndrome,' reflecting the phrase that they heard so many times from doctors after the babies were born. Though they don't know what the future will bring, they have trust that their chosen family of church friends and neighbors will be what they need to help these babies thrive.
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