Inspire, Spring 2002

S ue Parvin McCoy ’82 knows that prayer changes the pray-er. As a mother and a daughter, she has seen God work in awesome ways. Although Sue was adopted at birth into a strong Christian home, she experienced a “prayer breakthrough” when her son, Tyler, was born. Weighing just 2 lbs. 9 oz. at birth, Tyler brought Sue to her knees in a new way. Over the next 17 years as Tyler grew into a healthy young man, Sue’s prayer life also matured. Her experience as a mother had made her long to learn more about her birth mother, and she began faithfully praying. “I had a ‘bring it up, again and again’ prayer request to God,” she said. “It seemed that no amount of closed doors would be enough to shake my faith.” Sue wanted to know if her birth mother was a believer. “His master plan was designed that I was adopted at birth, raised in a Christian home, yet unable to let go of the thought that I needed to find my birth mother to share with her Christ’s great gift. Was this presumptuous request to remain unanswered in this life? With the sealing of records, one is forbidden by law to see her face, know her name, hear her voice. After 13 years of searching, joining organizations, seeking information, petitioning judges, and relentless praying, God miraculously opened the closed doors and once again answered prayer,” explained Sue. In 1998, Sue found her birth mother. “Hedy” was now living in Delaware. The pair met in Atlantic City. They discussed Hedy’s story. “It was really sad,” Sue explained. “She had come here from Germany and did not speak English. When she got pregnant, she did not understand what the doctor was explaining about adoption. Being an unwed mother, she agreed to putting me up for adoption, but suffered emotional distress as a result of that decision. Hedy now believes that had she had help with raising a baby, she would not have chosen adoption. She never had any children besides me.” After that initial meeting, Sue and Hedy began communicating and visiting. Sue has three children, and Hedy thinks of them as her grandchildren. Sue says her relationship with Hedy is evolving. Sue is overjoyed that God allowed her to find her birth mother, but recognizes that sometimes prayer is not always answered as we envision. Sue explains, “I believe life is all about answered prayer, for everything brought to God will eventually be answered—though not necessarily the way we anticipate.” Sue Parvin McCoy ’82 Inspire 17 Reunited Through Prayer