Ever since we got married, we wanted to have a baby. My biological clock was ticking and my husband, Rod, was concerned our time was running fast with my age. I was 38 when we tied the knot and it took 3 ½ years before we finally received the miracle of life through God’s grace.
Those 3 ½ years proved to be a trying waiting game for us. Aside from the adjustment period at the onset of our wedded life, parents, relatives and friends hounded us about having our bundle of joy before it was too late. One grandparent-to-be even blurted out, “there is no sense in living without a grandchild.” Talk about social pressure.
In desperation, we went through medical procedures. Our first OB Gynecologist recommended taking fertility pills called Chlomid. This was supposed to help me lay eggs and create a greater possibility to conceive. A few days into the medication, I began seeing streaks of light following people around and my eyes became too sensitive to brightness. Just looking a piece of white paper made me squint. Our doc said this was a rare allergic reaction and ordered me to stop taking the pills. Rod and I just decided to work around my fertility period but still to no avail.
After a year of failed attempts, we consulted another doctor. She was an OB Gyne-Sonologist who recommended follicle monitoring after she learned of my aversion to Chlomid. That meant, getting a transvaginal ultrasound to make sure I was ovulating. Only then would Rod and I do contact. An egg was fertilizing alright but my husband’s swimmers somehow missed it and I ended up having another menstrual period.
It was really so frustrating. Not to mention painful. Aside from the normal pelvic exam and PAP smear, my private part had to be poked to ensure I had no infection or blockage. My husband, on the other hand, had to release some semen without the benefit of the usual sex act just to make sure he had the right number of healthy sperms. It turned worse when we started accusing each other for failing to conceive. He picked on my busy schedule and I blamed it on his high blood sugar. Alas, it came to a point where we just gave up. Deep down though, I was so relieved. That meant I won’t have to go through the invasive procedures again. Besides, we did not exactly have the money to go through the expensive procedures anyway.
Apart from the scientific approaches, we also tried to follow advices of sorts no matter how silly they may have been. “Eat cashew nuts especially during your fertility period.” “Go to a hilot to correct whatever is wrong with your uterus.” “Put a pillow under your buttocks while making love. The higher the better.” Or “have your husband shake your legs upwards after having sex.” It is a wonder my neck did not break when we did all those crazy stuff.
Science and superstition did not seem to work for us. Just two years into the marriage, some well-meaning friends and relatives came up with more suggestions: adoption, artificial insemination and even cloning. I must have been too proud that I could not really get myself into thinking about raising another person’s child. Still, I tried so hard to fight the pride and asked God to open my heart to His will. If we had to adopt, Rod and I should embrace the idea with all our might.
Through it all, we constantly stormed the heavens with prayers. I asked the intercession of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and the help of the Intercessory Team of our Catholic Lay Community, the Light of Jesus Family. Then someone suggested that I ask the help of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. She would send a rose as a sign that our petition is answered.
May 9, 2010. My husband entered our room and handed over a surprise. It was totally unexpected because I was new to their place and hardly talked to anyone in the neighborhood but a neighbor was sweet enough to give a gift. It was a long stemmed red rose given on Mothers’ Day! My heart leaped with joy. This must be a positive sign from St. Therese! But come May 18, I had my period. Our spirits were downcast again. I saw many roses here and there afterwards but I discouraged myself from setting my hopes too high thinking that I was just misreading the signs. I fervently asked God to give us the child we longed for in His own perfect time and without any medication or expensive and painful invasive procedures. I also requested for an uncomplicated pregnancy so I could function normally. At my age of 41, it was like asking for the moon but I believed in the greatness of our God. He manifested miracles so many times in the Bible. Samuel was the fruit of an old infertile lady, Sarah was blessed with a son at 100+ years old. I was practically half the age. Surely, God would not fail me.
June 2010 was a busy month for us. I was part of the team preparing for the special coverage of the president-elect P.Noy’s inauguration. My husband was new in a company and had to work overtime to beat deadlines. We were not able to follow the doctor’s advice to make love every after two days during my fertile period. We had an erratic intercourse because we were both too tired. I promised my husband to work harder at it when I take a leave for 3 months starting July.
Guess what. My period never came just when we least expected it. Exactly on our third year and 6th monthsery on July 27, the pregnancy test showed two lines. The doctor said, “It is strongly positive! Congratulations!” Rod and I could not contain our joy and expressed praises and thanksgiving to God, our Abba Father. Finally, our fervent petition was granted.
August 27, 2010 marked our third year and 7th monthsery but it was somehow overshadowed by the fact that our precious baby turned two months. We listened to its heartbeat on the Dopler instrument. It was the sweet sound of confirmation of the life growing in my womb. Rod and I finally moved out of the frustrating long wait and turned to the page of joyful infanticipation. Our families and friends were all ecstatic. We still have a long way to go but it is with utter humility that we depend on God for our safe full term pregnancy and the eventual delivery of our normal, healthy bouncing baby after 9 months. Indeed, God in His goodness, makes miracles happen even in these modern times. To God be the glory.
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