Doctors Told Grace Anna’s Mother to Abort Her; Now She Inspires Millions With Her Songs (Exclusive)

Sep 19, 2017 09:14 AM EDT

Angie Rodgers vividly remember the day doctors told her something wasn't "exactly right" with her unborn baby girl - and recommended she undergo an abortion.

"The doctors told us we had 'options' five different times, and they was very adamant about it," she told The Gospel Herald in an exclusive interview. "I said, 'that's not an option for us. That's not even a thought in the back of our heads. No matter what you tell us, we're not aborting her.'"

"It was kind of a battle of belief," she said. "But, what God wants is what's right to me."

When Grace Anna was born, she was diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism called Conradi Hunermann syndrome. Symptoms for the genetic disorder, which affects just one in 400,000 newborns, include cataracts, spinal curvature, sparse or coarse scalp hair and scaling of the skin.

For the first six months of her young life, Grace Anna spent time in hospitals undergoing multiple surgeries. The little girl had detached retinas in her eyes, and failed her hearing test.

"For months, she just lay there in the hospital bed," Angie said. "I'd just sit there and stroke her arm and sing to her."

And then, something amazing happened.

"Grace was around 20 months old, and before she could even speak, she just started singing 'Amazing Grace' out of nowhere," Angie shared. "She seemed to love it."

The tiny girl continued to sing, and didn't take long for her to become a YouTube sensation. In 2013, her rendition of "The Star Spangled" banner went viral, with over 700,000 views. Today, Grace Anna's Facebook page - where her mother frequently posts videos of the little girl singing - has over 1 million "likes" and follows.

"She has an amazing ear for music, and it's really surprising, because she has to wear tubes in her ears," Angie said. "She's had so many surgeries and health issues, yet she remains so joyful and walks around singing constantly. She just has a love of life and music - and she loves Jesus. She believes wholeheartedly in prayer, that when you pray, God answers."

Grace Anna Sings
(Photo : Facebook)
Grace Anna's story has inspired millions around the world.

Grace Anna's inspiring story of hope, perseverance, and faith is the subject of Angie's new book, "Grace Anna Sings" from BroadStreet Publishing.

"Much of the media only represents one side of Grace," she said. "Nobody really knows everything that she goes through and how her life has touched other people. I wrote this book to let people know that those with disabilities are amazing people. They're not different; they're just like you and me."

"Grace has a big heart, she has hopes and dreams and goals," Angie added. "She's brilliant, she has feelings. Her body might look different, but God doesn't make mistakes. Her little life is just as important as anyone else's."

Everyday, the little girl receives hundreds of videos, messages, and letters from people sharing how her story has touched them.

"One of the most special stories was man who was dying, and his wife told us that all he wanted to do in his last moments was watch her videos and listen to her sing," Angie said. "I cried for days over that."

Angie said that watching her daughter joyfully overcome every obstacle thrown at her is a daily reminder of what's truly important.

"Before she came along, I would allow petty things to rob my joy," she admitted. "You see her fight for every little advancement she makes physically. And she's happy the entire time. She's doing really well physically, but there are still a lot of hurdles for her to overcome."

Through her family's story, Angie hopes to encourage others to rely on God no matter what struggles they face - and to never let go of hope.

"Have faith, that when you ask God to guide you, He will," she said. "Rely on His steadfast love and peace to get you through situations. Allow yourself the time to process it all. It's okay to be upset if everything's not perfect, but I truly believe there's a reason for it."

"You will have a far more enriched life than you'd ever imagined if everything had been fine," she continued. "That's exactly what happened to us. Life is so much better now than it was before Grace."

To learn more about the book, visit the Grace Anna Sings Facebook page.