Three and a half years ago, doctors gave Wendy Rumley six months to a year to live. A few days before the recent New Year, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, weighing six pounds, seven ounces.

Since being diagnosed with an inoperable Stage 4 brain stem glioma tumor in August 2002, life hasn’t been easy for Wendy, husband Will Rumley, or their 8-year-old son, Seth Rumley. Wendy faced losing her life; Will, his wife; and Seth, his mother.

Wendy has made tremendous progress in the past few years, defying the initial estimate of six months to a year to live. But nothing prepared the family for a second pregnancy, which doctors had warned against, and the arrival of a second son, Ian Jeffrey Rumley.

To friends and family, for Wendy having gone from a prognosis that took her to the brink of death to bringing life in the form of a new child into the world, Ian’s birth is nothing short of a miracle.

To the Rumleys, Wendy’s recovery and Ian’s birth are a miracle of committed persistence and courageous faith, for which they thank the Lord.

Life for the Rumleys has taken on a feeling of normalcy again. They live near the Lowndes-Brooks county line. He works at Cass Burch. She’s on maternity leave from her job at Southern OB/GYN. Seth attends second grade at Crossroads Baptist School. They attend Westside Baptist Church.

There are reminders of what they have endured. This weekend, Wendy is having an annual test to ensure her cancer remains in remission. The days leading up to these medical visits are nerve-wracking for the Rumleys. They know from experience how quickly things can change.

In the summer of 2002, Wendy wasn’t feeling well. She had bouts of nausea and dizziness. She would lose her balance. She suffered severe headaches. Wendy thought these symptoms may have been linked to a spot found on her liver. Tests at Emory proved her liver was fine, but doctors there and here did not know what was causing her other symptoms.

Then, the left side of Wendy’s face suddenly drooped. Her face had the appearance that she had suffered a stroke. When that happened, the Rumleys knew something was wrong. With contacts already made at Emory, an appointment was scheduled. There, several tests were conducted.

Then, the Rumleys received the bad news.

Wendy had Stage 4 brain stem glioma, an inoperable, cancerous tumor along her brain stem. This form of tumor hadn’t formed one lump, but had dotted itself along the brain stem. Will says doctors compared the tumor’s consistency as similar to fatty marbling in steak. Impossible to remove.

The doctors were candid, blunt. Wendy had six months to a year to live. She should get her affairs in order. They asked if she had a will.

Wendy and Will were stunned. They were devastated.

The medical team offered treatments of radiation and chemotherapy, but little hope. Treatments would begin almost immediately but wouldn’t likely change the outcome of the prognosis.