A Celebration of Life: Andrew Enoch Mullinax

Here is the information about young Andrew's short and very powerful life. Be blessed.
Pastor David


My friends,
Now that the week is finally slowing down a little bit, there is so much I want to say to all of you—the body of Christ at it’s very best. Thank you so much for praying for Shannon and Bert and their families. Some of you know what it is like have many people praying for you during a tragic time in your life—so many people praying that you feel God’s supernatural strength and peace coursing through your life even though your mind tells you that you should be on the floor in the fetal position crying your eyes out. I see that same supernatural strength in Shannon and Bert. Your prayers mean so very much—probably more than you can possibly realize. Please continue to pray in the days ahead.

I want to share a little bit about what happened on Monday while you were all praying for this precious family. I have heard Shannon and Bert say this same thing about the day—It was a good and beautiful day. When Shannon and Bert first discovered that Drew’s body was so challenged, they made a decision to celebrate his life—no matter how short it was going to be. It’s hard to believe that he was only here for eight and a half hours, because a day packed with so many precious and special moments seems to go on forever.
Shannon and Bert were surrounded by amazing love from family and their closest friends. The OR team at Northside Hospital made a first-ever exception and allowed Shannon’s mom, Bert’s mom, and Anna Carson (professional photographer and close friend) to be in the OR during Shannon’s c-section. This exception was the first of many to come. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the staff at Northside and how they allowed us to do whatever we needed to do—even when it was against the rules or protocols. Every nurse, doctor, technician, and staff member at the hospital paved the way to make things easy and wonderful for Shannon and Bert and the large contingent they had following along.
The original plan was that following Drew’s birth, Shannon and her mom would go to recovery while Bert, his mom and Anna went to the NICU with Drew. When Drew was born, his breathing was not strong and his doctor suggested that everyone go to recovery together and that Shannon and Bert keep Drew with them so that they could spend as much time with him as possible. It seemed like his time with us was going to be very short. As the next couple of hours passed and the brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces and friends came in to meet Drew, he gained strength and his respiration became steady and stronger. Whenever Shannon held Drew, his color improved and his respiration became even and stronger. Drew obviously knew his mommy and was drawing his strength from her.
Every time I walked into the room and looked at Bert, I saw complete joy and strength on his face. He was an absolute rock—for Shannon, his two older boys, and all of us who were there to support him. It was clear to me that God’s strength and peace was with him in an amazing way. There had been times during the day when Bert stood over the small warming table while the doctors examined Drew and explained what was happening in his small body. Then Bert would go to Shannon, explain the issues at hand and they would make each decision for Drew together. He was not worried or fretful. He had peace and strength of spirit. He remains that way today--upheld by your prayers.
At about 6:00pm, Shannon and Drew were moved to a regular room where Shannon would be more comfortable and where there was more space for the large crowd. For a time, Drew was stable enough for us to start passing him around a little more. Anna got photos of many family members and friends holding Drew. The entire day was filled with bittersweet tears, love of family, and the joy of laughter. After dinner the large crowd began to shrink some until there were only about 10 or 12 of us left. There had been several times during the day when Drew would stop breathing and struggle to get his next breath. Shannon would rub him and stimulate him to help him get his breath and bring his respiration back to normal. As the night went on, Drew stopped breathing more often and it was becoming more difficult for him to get started again.
Just before 10:00pm, it became clear that Drew was not going to be with us much longer. The family and friends encircled the bed while Shannon held Drew and Bert listened to his son’s last heartbeats with the doctor’s stethoscope. As little Andrew Enoch’s life on earth ended and his soul entered heaven, Lisa Young blessed everyone with the sweet gift of song as she sang so beautifully of peace, praise and God’s presence. It was one of the most beautiful moments that I have ever had the honor of experiencing. God worked out the details to create a truly good and beautiful day, and Drew’s life was a precious gift to everyone he came in contact with.

Thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, sweet words, hugs and acts of comfort for the Mullinaxes. Shannon and Bert are the two most courageous and faithful friends I have, and I am so honored to know them and to share life with them. Many of you have asked about arrangements for Drew and the need for food. The family will be holding a private graveside service on Monday morning for family and close friends. Several Sunday School classes at Briarlake Baptist are providing the food for the family on Monday. During the week of November 17, we will begin a food calendar for the family. I will send more information about that at a later time. If you attend Briarlake and your class is providing food on Monday, you will receive information from your class president today or tomorrow as those plans become more solid.
I know that many of you want to do something for the family. I will let you know whenever there is a specific opportunity to minister to them, but I encourage you to call, visit, e-mail, send cards, have coffee, share dinner or whatever God leads you to do in the coming days. Flowers may be sent to Turners Funeral Home in Decatur or donations may be made in Andrew Enoch Mullinax’s memory to www.ironmanforkids.com. Iron Man for Kids is an organization that seeks to create a much needed awareness and support for the chromosomal disorders trisomy 13 and 18 through the racing of an extreme amount of Ironmans around the world. Sounds like something Bert and Shannon would like, doesn’t it? Thanks and much love to you all!


In His Service,

Susan McDaniel
Children's Ministry Director s Briarlake Baptist Church s (404) 574-1614 s (678) 230-9851 (cell) s www.BriarlakeChurch.org