Contact: PJ Rutar, 800-288-4677 ext 5391

MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- When Tracie and Steve Patterson are given the news that they are going to be parents for the first time, they are overjoyed. But when the heartbeat of their unborn son, Braden, begins to slow during labor, their world comes to a standstill. Thirteen Months With an Angel (published by iUniverse) by Steve Paterson, follows the journey of two parents, the trials they face as parents of a severely brain damaged child and how their unwavering faith helped see them through.

Braden spends 17 minutes without breathing or a heartbeat, but somehow he survived. After the miracle of their baby's survival, Tracie and Steve were left to cope with having a severely brain-damaged baby prone to seizures and in need of regular checkups and 24 hour supervision. There in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with monitors, tubes and wires connected to Braden, Steve held his sons tiny hand and sang a special medley of his favorite children's songs. Steve would come to sing those songs routinely to Braden. It was during these special times Steve felt God was smiling down at him and Tracie as He watched His story of love unfolding for others to see and hear.

Tracie kept a handwritten journal during her time with Braden. Notes from this journal provide the book with the strong presence of a mothers hurting, loving and compassion for her sick child. Tracie's motherly insight into Thirteen Months with an Angel help Tracie accurately convey to others God's love, God's power and God's strength, which He supplied to the Patterson's on a daily basis.

"You may think it strange, but I never prayed for life or death in regard to Braden. I remember thinking of God giving His only son so that I could have Eternal life -- how could I be so selfish as to ask Him to save my family?

"I prayed for Him to allow the doctors, nurses, and staff to work at the highest level of which they were capable. I asked Him to guide and steady the doctor's hands. I continually asked Him for understanding of what was happening to our family at this very moment. I needed His understanding because as a human, I knew there was no way for me to handle what was going on -- I prayed like I had never prayed before."

Steve Patterson was born and raised in Borger, Texas. Patterson began his career as a journeyman pipe welder with a government contractor and now does facility condition assessment work. He lives in Amarillo, Texas with his wife and two daughters. In 2002, Patterson and his wife Tracie founded the Higher Focus Ministries. Higher Focus Ministries is a non-profit ministry that strives to help special needs children and their families. Visit the Higher Focus Ministry site at www.higherfocus.org.