Luke Milton Zimmerman

2015 - 2015

Luke Milton Zimmerman

Ulster Park - On October 14, 2015, at 5:44 a.m., Luke Milton Zimmerman was born at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. Ten hours later he was called back to God. Luke was the first child of Derek and Sara Zimmerman (formerly Winter) of Maple Ridge Bruderhof in Ulster Park. Five months before his birth he was diagnosed with a rare chromosomal disorder and a serious, complex heart defect. After it became clear that surgical interventions would not only be risky but unlikely to save his life, his parents decided, in consultation with their doctors at Vassar, to place Luke's future into God's hands.

In his father's words, "We believe in the sanctity of every human life. No matter how incapacitated or disabled, each new-born child is a gift from the Creator. We wanted to welcome Luke as he was made."

Specialists predicted that Luke would not survive delivery, but he was born alive and fully alert. On arrival home at the Bruderhof, he was welcomed with a prayer of thanksgiving and blessed. He was fed, bathed, held, and sung to. He opened his eyes and responded when called by name. He waved his hands, sucked his thumb, kicked his feet, and made boyish noises. In the late afternoon, he took his last breath- cradled in his parents' arms, and surrounded by family members and friends. Though the pain of his loss is raw, his parents are awed by the miracle of his life and the joy he brought them and so many others during his brief stay. To quote Luke's father, "It doesn't matter how short our son lived. He was a messenger of love, and he will always be part of our family and have a special place in our hearts." His parents are also deeply grateful for the many prayers that went up on their behalf, and for the expert care and support provided by the obstetrics teams at Vassar Hospital and Mount Kisco Medical Group.

Luke was named after the following passage from the Gospels: "People were even bringing their babies to Jesus… and when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'" (Luke 18:15-17)