In loving memory of Baby Andrew Nicholas Barron Read baby Andrew's obituary

Andrew Nicholas Barron died peacefully at his mother's side on September 29, 2004. This page remains as a testimony to the powerful way God worked in his short life. Terri Palmquist also wrote a poem telling Andrew's life story.

by Tim Palmquist
May 26, 2004

God has given us the great privilege of being tools in His hands, ministering to people with His power. Yesterday, Terri and I sensed that baby Andrew (the newborn son of one of our clients) needed a special touch from God, so we decided to travel to the Children's Hospital of Central California north of Fresno to visit Andrew.

Terri Palmquist holds baby Andrew (this photograph was taken the day before Andrew was hospitalized).

Andrew was hospitalized just a few days after his birth due to meningitis caused by a beta strep infection he acquired during delivery. The meningitis caused Andrew to suffer from over a dozen seizures an hour, which according to the doctors severely damaged his brain. Andrew's seizures have been controlled by phenobarbitol, which put his brain to sleep.

Over the past two weeks of his hospitalization, an increasing number of people from as far away as Poland have been praying for him, asking God to heal his tiny body. On May 17 at the Kern Region Prayer Watch, the Christians who were gathered together for prayer from around Kern County claimed God's purpose for Andrew's life. The praying Christians were connected by phone with Jessica, Andrew's mother, who was at Andrew's side in the hospital.

Terri and I remembered how God worked in the life of our first child, also named Andrew, who was hospitalized for 10 days after his premature birth. Although the doctors had told us of many problems Andrew could experience, today Andrew is a healthy 18-year-old and a worship leader! We couldn't help but see our Andrew's past struggles and future victories in the face of this new little Andrew.

As prayer continued over the next few days, Prayer Watch leader Susan Rowe discerned the need to "break an assignment of witchcraft over the family and pray for repentance that will lead to salvation." Jessica later confirmed the validity of Sue's insight, explaining to Terri that members of her family (other than herself) are involved in satanic activities such as psychic activity, palm reading, and drug abuse.

This Monday (May 24), Terri brought baby blankets to the Kern Region Prayer Watch meeting, asking participants to pray over the blankets. Terri did this as an act of faith, remembering what God had done just a few weeks ago in the life of a woman who was suffering from advanced stages of throat cancer. A scarf was brought to the Prayer Watch meeting to be prayed over, and the woman wore the scarf as an act of faith. Later, two different doctors reported that all signs of the cancer were gone.

Now, I must confess that Terri and I felt like we were really going out on a limb in some aspects of this experience (considering our Baptist background), but we did this as an act of faith on behalf of a tiny baby. (And considering Acts 19:11-12 and John 14:12 we had to come to grips with the fact that is scripturally appropriate.)

At Terri walked into the prayer room, one of the participants told Terri that her daughter in Minnesota had said that we should pray over a baby blanket and bring it to baby Andrew. One of the most significant moments of that evening of prayer and worship for me was when we sang to God "I'm desperate for You," confessing that He is all we need (and all Andrew needs), He is "the air we breathe."

As we prayed over the blankets, one word kept coming to my mind: "glory!" I prayed that God's glory would fill little Andrew, and expand to his family, the entire hospital, and beyond. We sensed God's glory filling the prayer room that night, as He filled our hearts with joy and laughter echoed through the room.

After the prayer meeting, Jessica called to tell Terri that baby Andrew's condition was declining; a nurse even insinuated that he might not make it through the night. Although it was after midnight, Terri at first considered driving to the hospital immediately. But Tuesdays are abortion days in Bakersfield, so she wanted to ensure that the pregnancy evangelism outreach to the women entering the abortion chamber would not be neglected.

Before the sun rose on Tuesday morning, Terri called the hospital to check on baby Andrew's condition. A nurse pessimistically told Terri that she had never seen a baby in his condition who fully recovered. "But," she quickly added, "that's just one nurse's opinion."

Seeing that the abortion staff was arriving, Terri headed out to the abortion chamber, holding the sanctified baby blankets. Terri walked around the

We claimed Christ's victory not only over Andrew's sickness but over abortion

perimeter of the abortion mill's property, praying as she held the blankets, remembering that the night before we had claimed Christ's victory not only over Andrew's sickness but over abortion.

Terri spent several hours on the sidewalk outside the abortion chamber, reaching out to the women who were being led into the devil's snare. Terri was met with an unusual amount of hostility, but she recognized that this reflected the intensity of the spiritual battle at hand. Finally, Terri's replacements arrived and we were able to hurry to Fresno.

When we arrived at the Children's Hospital, we thought we were late. But Jessica soon walked up pulling her two young boys in a wagon, and she said our timing was just right. Jessica was upbeat, thankful that someone who had been trying to discourage her had been removed from the situation (this person has a witchcraft-oriented background and was causing trouble for Jessica by practicing deception, so we considered her departure to be an answer to prayer).

Soon we were in the PICU (intensive care unit). "I don't want to scare you, but he looks really bad," Jessica said. (That was the most negative thing she said all day.) But our experience with our own baby Andrew had prepared us for what we were about to see.

During the drive from Bakersfield to Fresno, God had laid Psalm 8 on my heart, so as we entered into a time of prayer and placed the blankets on Andrew, I began by reading Psalm 8:1-2:

O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

As I anointed Andrew with oil, I proclaimed that Andrew's Creator was also his Healer. I repeated some of the prayers which had been proclaimed by those who were at Monday night's Kern Regional Prayer Watch meeting, including the declaration that the healthy cells in Andrew's body would have a sevenfold increase. I also prayed again that Andrew would be filled with God's glory.

Terri then read Isaiah 53:4-5:

Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

We placed the small prayer cloth over Andrew's head (it was later moved to under his head), the small baby blanket at his feet, and the larger baby blanket at his side. The larger blanket was one of the special blankets made by some ladies at a local church, embroidered with the words "Jesus Loves Me."

After our prayer time, I went back out to watch the children, leaving Terri and Jessica in the room with Andrew. Jessica was expecting a visit from the doctor soon, and she anticipated the doctor asking her the dreaded question, "do you want us to shut off the life-support machines?" Jessica had prayed that someone would be at her side for support during this meeting with the doctor.

When the doctor finally arrived, Terri assured the doctor "we're praying for a miracle." The doctor responded with silence. When the doctor emphasized many of Andrew's problems, Terri responded confidently, "no offense, but the worse it looks, the more obvious it will be that it wasn't you guys who healed him!" The doctor agreed.

Even in the face of the seemingly insurmountable problems, there was some good news to report: Andrew was being removed from phenobarbitol, the drug which was putting his brain to sleep. This would be a key time for him, as his brain was given the opportunity to wake up.

At the end of the long day, we went with Jessica to her room at the Ronald McDonald House, which shelters families of hospitalized children. Terri was hoping we would have an opportunity now to pray with Jessica to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Several times over the past few days, Terri had begun talking with Jessica about her spiritual condition, but it never seemed like the right time (for example, a nurse interrupted one such conversation by walking into the hospital room).

But in the privacy of Jessica's room, we finally had the opportunity to help Jessica repent of her sins and fully accept Christ's payment for her sins, and His plan for her life. Jessica, eager to meet her heavenly Father, never hesitated.

With tears of joy, we said goodbye to Jessica and her boys, and headed back down the long road to Bakersfield.

Today (Wednesday, May 26), Jessica called to tell us that the doctor had great news. He had tested some of Andrew's reflexes, and had noticed some response. "Now this is what we're looking for!" the doctor exclaimed.

Andrew continues to experience seizures, but they are about 25 times less frequent. "We can handle this," the neurologist said. The wrapping around his head has been removed to let his head air out for a while.

As Jessica walked down the hospital's hallways after meeting with the doctor, she lifted her voice in praise to God. She wondered a bit if someone passing by might think she's crazy, but it didn't matter. Her heart was so full of joy and praise she had to let it out.

We give all the glory to God for healing Andrew, and we continue to covet your prayers for him as there is still a long road ahead. And we join with the angels in heaven rejoicing over Jessica's salvation!

Update: June 23, 2004

Baby Andrew had been home for about four days when this photograph was taken. Although the doctors had said that "if" he ever went home he would need a tracheotomy and a feeding tube, he was breathing and eating like a normal baby. The only special treatment he required was some oral seizure medication.

We helped Jessica (Andrew's mom) to find an affordable apartment so that her living situation could be improved. She still needs some dressers and possibly a refrigerator and other furnishings.

Praise God for healing Andrew and providing for the needs of his family!

Claiming victory over the spirit of death: June 28, 2004

Terri was overcome by emotion as she marveled at the miraculous healing of baby Andrew during the prayer meeting. Jessica (at left), gives all the glory to God.

Tonight we brought Andrew and his family to the Kern Region Prayer Watch meeting to encourage these intercessors who stood with Andrew in his darkest hours, and to request continued prayer that God will protect him and his family from the devil's schemes. Baby Andrew is just one of several people who have recently experienced God's healing touch through the prayers of these intercessors. Together we claimed Christ's victory not only over the devil's attacks against Andrew, but also over the entire abortion battle in Bakersfield. Listen in on part of the intercession and celebration.

• Andrew's obituary
• Andrew's poem