Freedom, Faith, and Being Made New: My Baptism Story

7/4/2025, is not just Independence Day. It’s also my husband’s birthday, a day of celebration, reflection, and gratitude for life. This year, it also held deeper meaning as I honor the fight of my daughter, Jahmya, who spent 40 days admitted in the hospital before gaining her heavenly freedom.

Those 40 days were a sacred fight. Mya was born with medical complexities, yet every day, she radiated light, warmth, and courage that only God could have placed in her. She felt safe, she felt loved, and she felt God during those 40 days. I know this because I, as her mother, led her there. I showed her what faith looked like, and in return, she showed me what pure, unshakable faith is.

On the mornings I walked into that hospital room, Mya’s face would light up. It didn’t matter how heavy my heart was or how exhausted I felt; she gave me strength with her smile, and I gave her peace with my presence. We created the most cherished memories. Worship music filled her room, day in and day out to the point her playlist changed up! I whispered prayers over her, until she started getting my attention for prayer herself, setting off the monitor alarms with each tiny, holy protest. Lastly, there were cuddles, dancing, and moments of laughter, even in the middle of pain.

The last 40 days of her life became a testament that faith doesn’t remove the storm; it carries you through it. Even as we faced the hardest moments, God was near. I saw Him in the nurses gentle care, in the moments Mya opened her eyes and reached for my hand, and in the indescribable peace that filled the room during her last breaths.

Our Walk with God: 2025 and Beyond Words

This year, my faith alone has gone beyond what words can speak. Losing Mya on this earth did not weaken my faith; it strengthened it. It anchored me. It gave me a new understanding of surrender, trust, and worship.

Baptism for me and my baby girl Taliyah is now a symbol of the promise I made during Mya’s 40 day Journey: to continue to walk with God boldly, to trust Him even when we don’t understand, and to carry Mya’s light everywhere we go.

Independence Day 2025, Taliyah and I reflect on freedom in Christ and the gift of family, life, and eternal hope. We honor Jahmya by choosing to live with faith, finding joy again, and sharing God’s goodness even in the valleys.

For anyone grieving or walking through their own 40-day fight:

– God sees you.

– You are not alone in this valley.

– Your faith can grow even in heartbreak.

– Freedom in Christ means you can live fully, even when you carry grief.

As I move forward, I carry Jahmya’s light and the strength God has given me into every new day. My faith will continue to speak, even when words fail.

Thank you, Jahmya, for showing me what fearless faith looks like. I honor your fight, your light, and the freedom we have in Christ.