Last week I stopped by and visited a friend I have had for years. She lives in another state, so we do not get to see each other often. We had a very nice visit which included sharing with each other our Christian faiths. That day my friend shared a very personal experience from her past with me that I have found to be one of the most profound and dramatic narratives of God’s Love and Mercy. She has given me permission to now share her story with you.
My friend, about forty years ago, was nineteen, married, and pregnant with her first child. The pregnancy left her extremely ill. She did not eat much for two months, and when she did she became very nauseous. There were further complications of bleeding.
Her doctor met with her and her husband and advised an abortion. The doctor claimed that the pregnancy was making her too sick; and he insisted that the loss of blood would create a brain-damaged baby. My friend’s husband at the time, a preacher, was extremely pro-child. He wanted a wife and family as soon as possible; however, he did not want any “damaged” children. The preacher insisted upon the abortion. My friend was heartbroken and was unconvinced that the pregnancy would not turn out a viable child. She asked her husband that they take one night to reflect. All agreed.
Upon leaving the doctor’s office, my friend became hungry. Her husband took her to a restaurant, and she had a hearty meal without becoming sick for the first time in two months. She took this as a sign. She begged her husband to reconsider and let the pregnancy progress. He adamantly refused. The preacher said his mind was made up, the procedure would happen the next day.
She cried all night. She climbed onto the hospital gurney the next day crying and cried up until they put her to sleep for the procedure. When she awoke, her doctor told her matter-of-factly, “It’s a good thing we terminated; you had triplets in there!” Well, those words finished her off! Not only did she end one child’s life, she ended the lives of three. The pain in her heart was greater than she thought could be possible without the heart just tearing in two. It seemed as if the life had been ripped out of her body; that she was a shell, broken.
She cried for a year. The grief of the loss of her dear triplets was compounded by the fact that her mother had lost triplets in a miscarriage. After a year with no conception and little relief from the pain in her heart, her husband informed her that she had two years to conceive his child or there would be a divorce. No child came and the husband was true to his word. The marriage ended.
Turning to her faith and her God, my friend prayed for healing and the grace to one day bring another life into this world. She received an answer. After a Sunday service, a fellow church member told her that the Lord had spoken and told them that she would one day conceive and have a child. The messenger told her God had promised.
She married again, and for 12 years they lived a married life with no protection against pregnancy. One day at age 38, my friend was feeling ill and for fun took a pregnancy test. The test was positive. Her husband was in disbelief and accompanied her to a doctor visit. The doctor confirmed – she was seven weeks pregnant. She knew this was the promised child. Her husband was still in shock, but she was on top of the world.
Until the phone rang the very next day. She had to return to the doctor. She and husband were again handed news. This time the news was bad, cervical cancer. Once again she was told by a doctor to terminate her pregnancy. The words stung like a knife in her heart.
Immediately she asked the doctor two questions: 1 – Do you believe in Jesus Christ? and 2-Do you believe cancer can go into remission or be cured? Her doctor said yes to believing in Jesus and said in “most cases cancer.”. She stopped him. She asked him again and warned him that the wrong answer would prevent him from continuing as her doctor. He finally said yes, cancer can go into remission. Her husband by this point had found his voice and was asking for termination of the pregnancy. She told the doctor, “congratulations, you have a patient”… and come hell or high water she informed both the doctor and the husband that she would be carrying the child to term. She did not care about what would be happening to her body; she knew this was God’s promise and it would be fulfilled.
She called her prayer warriors, starting with mama, and told everyone “pray for this baby, do not pray for me. I accept God’s will for me, but I want this baby to live.”
That baby and his mother survived. She now has a son who has given her two beautiful granddaughters.
I sat stunned at her story. I was in awe that God saw fit to put her in the same situation nearly twenty years later. She not only got a second chance at giving life, but she also received the chance to make the right choice. Most facing her decision, would have said it just wasn’t in the cards and would have put themselves first. She chose life and self-sacrifice and God’s Mercy rained down upon her!
Her three little babies in heaven must have been so proud! Their mother was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to save a loved one’s life. One day in heaven, she will be surrounded by her children; her family will at last be reunited in Christ.
God always has a plan. It is up to us to follow, although the road may be treacherous and hard, He is with us and helping us.
Thank you my friend! You have lifted me up!
C’est Bon
Love,
Sherry
I think we all follow something or someone..
Proud Catholic 