IWKnights Corner For January 17, 2021

Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?

"We recently published an article from the November issue of the Columbia featuring the story of 5-year-old Michael “Mikey” Schachle, whose healing in utero was attributed to the intercession of Blessed Michael McGivney. What the article did not say was that after their unborn son was diagnosed with a fatal condition in February 2015, Daniel and Michelle Schachle were counseled to have an abortion. Daniel, a Knights of Columbus general agent in Tennessee, spoke about his reaction to that advice during his testimony at a prayer vigil for priests on Oct. 30, 2020, the eve of Father McGivney’s beatification. Excerpts from his remarks are printed here."

"When we were given the diagnosis of genetic abnormality-induced fetal hydrops, we were told by the doctor that we had only two options: 1) Terminate the unfortunate pregnancy now, or 2) Wait for him to die and have a stillbirth. Option 2 had the additional risk to the health of my wife, as she could develop a condition to mirror my son’s.  The doctor told us it wouldn’t really be an abortion since there was no hope.  She had been in the high-risk field for 30 years and had never heard of an unborn child surviving this condition."

"We were devastated, as were our other children, with the diagnosis.  I was also angry at the doctor for telling me it was OK to kill my child.  Fathers are supposed to protect their children, not kill them.  We are to lay aside status, money, influence, comfort and all other trappings to protect them physically and spiritually.  I remember telling Michelle one day while she was crying, 'I don’t know who the hell that doctor thinks she is, telling us there’s no hope.'  However, my bride was much more charitable, telling me that the doctor was just worried about her."

"The Schachles begged God for a miracle and began asking Father McGivney to intercede for their son.  Soon after the diagnosis, they went on a Knights of Columbus pilgrimage to Fatima and Rome in March 2015."

"Upon return to the U.S., we had another ultrasound.  It was read by a different doctor who began to explain to Michelle about the team that would be working with our baby when he was born.  Michelle stopped her and said, 'Dr. Mary, what do you mean ‘when he is born’?  I was told there was no hope?'  When she heard this, the doctor flipped back in her chart and said, 'Are you the one who just went to Fatima?'  When Michelle said she was, the doctor told her, 'Well, now you’re going to have a baby.'  Michelle told her we were changing the name to Michael McGivney and why.  The doctor was so happy, as her dad was a Knight! …"

"On the day I was scheduled to return [from a conference] May 15, Michelle had a routine ultrasound scheduled.  I received a call that morning that they were going to do an emergency C-section. …'

"The original doctor came in and told Michelle that she never thought we’d be here.  Michelle told her she was so happy to see her, and that she brought her a gift and had been waiting to give it to her.  She said, 'This Miraculous Medal and holy water are from Fatima.'  The doctor began to cry, took off her necklace and put on the medal and said, 'You don’t know how much this means to me.'  I am told she keeps the 'before' and 'after' ultrasounds on her desk to this day to remind her there is no such thing as 'no hope."

Some may say this was an intersection of heaven, Fatima, and the Pro-Life efforts of the Knights of Columbus!

Find more about the Knights of Columbus at  IWKnights9981.com/bulletin or in facebook.com/IWknights9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights.

Links Related to this week’s column:

There Is Always Hope
	A father recalls the reaction of doctors to his son’s fatal diagnosis and miraculous healing.
		By Daniel Schachle  - Columbia Magazine (1/1/2021)
			Click here for Website

Prayer for Protection in Time of Pandemic
	A Novena which seeks Our Lady’s Intercession for Protection in Time of Pandemic
		By His Holiness, Pope Francis (3/2020)
		A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION IN TIME OF PANDEMIC (PDF Version)
				Click here for the Prayer