A Difficult Pregnancy

 November 14, 1999

Hi everyone, I just thought that I would share my Saint Therese story with you all....I was 36 yrs. Old and pregnant with our third child. The doctors considered me high risk and placed on my chart "patient-elderly," this note the nurse told me just reminds the staff that I am over 35. I had always been in good health and our two other children's deliveries were normal. In my fifth month, the doctors discovered my protein level was 5 times what it should be. They decided to send me to a Medical Center for more intense testing. My husband and I set out for a three hour trip and a days worth of testing. After all the tests were done, the doctor called us in to her office and gave us some pretty startling news. She told us that the "fetus" was "damaged." There was no blood circulating in the brain and spinal column. She stated "matter a factly" that they have set up a procedure to take care of the "problem pregnancy." Being in a state of shock, I assumed she meant more testing. In a few hours, she said, I would be ready for the drive home. The doctors had set up an abortion. The doctor stated that it was either the "surgery" or that we would have to set up arrangements to place this child in an institution because he/she would be in a "vegetable" state. My husband and I refused to speak about this "surgery." When I told the doctor, "God would not give us more than we can handle!" She handed me a release form, noting that the Medical Center would not be responsible for the outcome of the pregnancy. Needless to say, I cried my heart out all the way home. I told as few people as I could...hoping and praying it would all go away. I called our former pastor, he and my children got together and prayed over me and our child. Monsignor had great devotion to Saint Therese and we all prayed for her intercession. Monsignor said to ask as many people as I could to pray...and
the prayers began!! On July 26, 1989, at 3 p.m., I was wheeled into the operating room for a C-section, with a staff of doctors and life flight on stand by. My "little flower" Therese was born a healthy 7 lb. 6 oz. baby. The doctors would not admit nor had they ever that the power of prayer healed this child in my womb. Therese's baptism was a wonderful event. It lasted nearly 2 hours and no one even noticed. Monsignor told her story, there was not a dry eye in the church. Monsignor was 15 minutes late...he had a meeting concerning Lebanon with President Jimmy Carter in the morning, Therese's baptism and then left to fly to Calcutta to be with Mother Teresa after the ceremony. Pretty good company, I'd say. As Therese got older, members of the community would refer to her as a miracle child. One day, her and I were bringing flowers to place in front of Saint Therese in honor of her feast day. Therese said, smiling so sweetly in front of the statue, "Mommy, that's who I was before I was born, right?" Therese has been such a Blessing, and word has gotten back to me that her story has saved other babies, whose mommies were told they had a "problem pregnancy."