Opinion: A Miracle Baby - Born to Serve

I'll never forget the first time I saw my son Eric Ray Garmon, in the NICU. There laid a 23 week old gestational baby boy weighing 1.5 pounds, about 12 inches long, and immersed in a barrage of tube's, IV's and breathing apparatus to try and keep him alive. He was so tiny, and fit in the palm of his daddy's hand. 40 years ago, pictures were not allowed in the NICU, so I found a picture similar to what Eric looked like in size to give you an idea of the shock I experienced when I saw him for the first time. We were told that "If he survived" he could possibly be blind, deaf, be small in stature (his growth plates weren't finished growing), and a list of other birth defects, including all types of developmental disabilities or even death. As I stared down, looking into the incubator, I cried with fear of what kind of life my baby would have with all of the physical "warnings" from the neonatal doctors, of...what "could be" wrong with my precious angel. 11 months earlier, I'd had a son who had passed away, so words cannot describe the fear this mother felt listening to this. I remember the room beginning to spin around, and my husband having to hold me up at the shock of it all. As I saw Eric struggling, "Fighting to live", I cried out to God, for him to allow my baby to live. I promised God to raise him in church, and to teach him to love, respect and...to SERVE OTHERS. As Eric's mother, I kept that promise I made to God, and Eric has dedicated his life to doing just that, serving others. All of the disability "Warnings" that we were given about that little gift from God, my precious Eric...never happened. He's 6'2" and very intelligent. ERIC IS A PROUD MARINE. He enlisted in the Marines soon after 9/11. As a terrified mother who had fought to keep him alive for years after his very premature birth...I cried and ask him "WHY?" His quick answer was that..."He wanted to SERVE AND PROTECT HIS COUNTRY and fellow Americans". Once again, I prayed alot...and begged God to protect Eric from any harm. After his service in the Marine Corp, he wanted to continue to SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HIS COMMUNITY in some way. So...ERIC decided to become A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER and he attended the police academy in Tallahassee, Florida. He saw both the "good side" and "bad side" of Law Enforcement while serving as a police officer. He witnessed people who couldn't afford to hire an attorney and fight for their rights (mostly poor people), go to jail for petty crimes...but if you were the "Powers to be", the more affluent or in positions of authority, would not be charged at all for their CRIMES because of their position, or if they "knew the right people". Eric wanted to do something about the UNJUST AND DIFFERENCES IN HOW PEOPLE WERE BEING TREATED, so he decided to go to Law School and become an ATTORNEY to help people fight for a FAIR AND JUSTICE LEGAL SYSTEM FOR EVERYONE. Being a former Police Officer, Eric wanted to use his experience in that field to make sure that people who broke the law, were all treated equally. Eric's been on all sides of the law as a police officer and attorney, so he's very knowledgeable in all aspects of the law. Eric is running for the STATES ATTORNEY for the 14th Judicial Circuit...again...WANTING TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE 14TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA. Many people have told him that running against an incumbent (Larry Basford) is difficult to win. That hasn't deterred Eric from his decision to "go for it", because his faith in God...and the citizens of the 14th Judicial Circuit...can make it happen. Eric is use to fighting for "JUSTICE FOR ALL", and he wants to serve again...as the States Attorney for the 14th Judicial Circuit. PLEASE VOTE FOR Eric Garmon for State Attorney. ---- The opinions expressed in the Bay County Coastal are solely those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Bay County Coastal, its owners, or its contractors. We strive to provide a platform for diverse perspectives and encourage respectful and thoughtful discourse among our readers. Bay County Coastal does not endorse candidates.