I Believe in Miracles

Lying on the table, I knew in my heart that something was wrong, as the ultrasound technician left the room without warning. Soon afterward, my husband and I were escorted into the gynecologist's office, awaiting his arrival.

"You are having a molar pregnancy, and it is advised to have a D&C right away." A molar pregnancy is a rare, nonviable pregnancy that could potentially lead to cancer. I was heartbroken because our journey to have one more child before entering my forties would end now. I was numb while the doctor continued to speak, as I had dreamed of having another baby since our youngest child was two years old. Yet when I asked my husband for another one, he would bring home a puppy. At one point, we had eight dogs.

The pain after my procedure was unbearable, so I was instructed to take 2 - 800mg of Motrin, which helped slightly. What happened next was unexpected: My husband came home with a puppy! He knew it worked in the past, and his timing was impeccable.

At my one-week post-operative visit, I was not feeling well. Maybe I had the flu, I thought. My doctor assured me that I could be suffering from depression because I had three miscarriages before this pregnancy, one of which was twins. The doctor advised us not to get pregnant for at least a year, so he gave me samples of birth control pills to use in the meantime.

However, as I had my hand on the doorknob, he stopped me from leaving. The lab report said, "No fetal tissue found, but a molar pregnancy is all fetal tissue," he said with confusion. Let's do another ultrasound.

While lying on the table, not looking at the screen this time, the technician told me, "You might want to see this." When I turned my gaze to her, I immediately saw it, but I was unsure and confused about what it would mean. It was a black sack, and within it, a heartbeat! Was I pregnant again? How could this be?

Once more, I found myself alone in his office this time. His words filled the room with a sense of wonder, 'We are not sure what happened, but you have a viable pregnancy now.' For about an hour, we discussed the various reasons for how this could be medically possible. We concluded that I had a vanishing twin. In addition, he believed that the embryo was embedded between two fibroids, which protected it when he scraped the uterus. It was a miracle, a sign that my prayers had been answered!

On my way home after hearing the delightful news, I listened to a new song on the radio: A Moment Like This by Kelly Clarkson. The words gave me chills, "What if I told you it was all meant to be? Would you believe me? Would you agree?"  I cried the entire way home and for the next several weeks. Our family and friends were also delighted because they knew how much it meant to me to increase our family. Their unwavering love and encouragement reassured us during this challenging time.

At this point, I was considered a high-risk pregnancy and treated like royalty by the doctors and staff. I visited their practice frequently and learned to know everyone by name. Their support was a comforting blanket, wrapping me in reassurance during this tumultuous journey.

At nineteen weeks, I began spotting and went to the emergency room. The intake nurse said while winking, 'You're twenty weeks pregnant- right?' Of course, I said yes. Later, he met us at the elevator and explained that they would have sent me home at nineteen weeks and would not try to save the pregnancy. After that, I was on bed rest for the next couple of weeks, and the day that I was released, I fell and sprained my ankle- so then placed back on bedrest.

It was five weeks before my due date when I realized that my amniotic fluid was leaking, and it was as if I had been peeing on myself all day. Later that evening, we were back in the emergency room. Despite the unexpected challenges, we held onto hope. My husband, in a moment of panic, asked the doctor if he had time to go home and pack a bag, to which the doctor replied,' No, we're going to deliver a baby.' He began pacing the floor and, at that point, said: 'What do I do? 'Who do I call? I told him to chill out. He said, 'But you don't understand; my wife is having a baby.' The tension in the air was palpable, the uncertainty of the situation hanging over us like a heavy cloud.

A tiny bundle of joy was born at midnight, weighing only 4 pounds and 4 ounces. Her Apgar scores were perfect, so there was no need to visit the NICU. Her miraculous, unexpected, yet joyful birth filled our hearts with inspiration and faith. This journey was a beacon of hope in our lives, inspiring us to believe in the power of miracles.