The Unexpected Bombshell
“I have both good news and bad news for you! Which do you want to hear first?” the nurse asked.
“I’m pregnant and I have fibroids,” my wife responded, chuckling for a brief moment. Multiple tests at other health facilities had confirmed this. However, she was unprepared for what the nurse at this facility had to say next.
“Yes, on a serious note, the baby in your womb cannot survive. You have multiple large fibroids occupying an overwhelming section of your womb. The fetus is very tiny and has very little space. I advise you to consult with the doctor and schedule an abortion, followed by a womb cleansing procedure to prepare for your next pregnancy,” the nurse said firmly.
My wife was devastated and speechless. She walked out of the scan room heartbroken and confused. Abortion? We had been married for barely two months. She was 34, and I was 36. Given our age, we had hoped to start a family as soon as possible. When my wife began experiencing feverish symptoms, body aches, and other unusual discomforts, we visited a nearby pharmacy for a rapid pregnancy test. Within minutes, the result was positive, and we were overjoyed.
A few days later, we visited a government hospital for a second test again and it was positive. A month later, during her first antenatal visit, she was required to undergo a scan. That was when she had the unexpected conversation with the nurse.
That same day, my wife was scheduled for a routine consultation with a gynecologist. To our relief, the doctor reassured her that since she had conceived despite the fibroids, she could safely carry the pregnancy to term.
Everything seemed fine in the months that followed until the fifth month of pregnancy. By then, both the baby and the fibroids had grown significantly. Unknown to us, we were about to embark on the most challenging phase of our journey.
The Road Less Traveled
One night, my wife was suddenly overcome by excruciating abdominal pain. Walking became unbearable, and standing upright was impossible. She took painkillers, but the pain only intensified.
The next morning, we rushed to a specialist hospital, where she was immediately hospitalized. Three doctors examined her and explained that the pain was due to the increasing tension and heaviness in her abdomen, caused by both the growing baby and the fibroids. Several scans revealed that the fibroids had grown so large they were blocking the entrance to her womb.
The doctors were shocked that she had conceived in the first place; her womb had appeared “impenetrable.”
To manage the pain, the doctors administered potent pain relievers, multiple injections, IV drips, and oral medications. After a few days, she was discharged and advised to stay on strict bed rest, avoid any physical exertion, and stick to her prescribed medication.
But by the following day, the pain returned, worse than before. She was hospitalized again for several days. This time, after conducting additional tests, one of the doctors suggested terminating the pregnancy for medical reasons.
Alternatively, he proposed that we manage the pain until the sixth or seventh month, at which point they could perform a C-section to deliver the baby prematurely. The baby would then be placed in an incubator, while the fibroids would be removed in a later procedure.
It was a difficult decision, but my wife and I were firmly pro-life. We chose the second option – to endure the pain, hospitalizations, and risks, trusting that our baby would survive.
In the ward next to my wife’s, a woman had undergone a similar ordeal but had tragically lost her pregnancy. She was now preparing for surgery to remove her fibroids. This was emotionally draining for my wife.
A close male relative and his wife visited us during this time. In an attempt to offer comfort, he advised that we prepare ourselves for any outcome even losing the baby. He suggested that such a loss might actually be a blessing, as it could prevent the birth of a possibly sickly or physically challenged child. Though they meant well, their words did not sit well with us. We politely nodded, but in our hearts, we were unwavering because we wanted to keep our baby at all costs.
A Glimpse of Hope
Determined to seek another opinion, we consulted a renowned gynecologist at a private hospital. After reviewing my wife’s condition, he conducted a detailed scan himself.
“This is a medical miracle,” he said in amazement. “Despite the large fibroids, the baby is perfectly fine!”
He strongly advised us to keep the pregnancy, prescribing strict bed rest, a tailored pain management plan and regular monitoring.
Over the following months, my wife endured persistent sharp pains, sleepless nights, and multiple hospitalizations. By this time, she had been treated at four different hospitals.
Baby girl – Photo by Garrett JacksonThe Final Stretch
As the ninth month approached, we sought the expertise of Dr. Awuku, a leading specialist at Nsawam Government Hospital. He had an outstanding record with high-risk pregnancies and agreed to take on my wife’s case.
However, there was one major problem – her blood levels had dropped dangerously low due to the fibroids. We tried various medications and herbal treatments, but nothing worked.
Two weeks before her scheduled C-section, Dr. Awuku administered a special IV drip for five consecutive days. It worked.
The night before the surgery, my wife was admitted. The following morning, Dr. Awuku arrived early to perform the procedure himself. This was a pleasant surprise since we had been told he might not be available that day.
The Sound of Victory
After hours of waiting, I heard the best news of my life – our baby girl had arrived safe and healthy!
She bore a striking resemblance to me and my father.
While our joy was overwhelming, the ordeal was not yet over. Immediately after the C-section, my wife was taken in for a myomectomy to remove the fibroids.
Those next three to four hours were the longest of my life.
Finally, I saw them! My wife and daughter being wheeled into the maternity ward. My wife was exhausted but safe.
The nurses were exceptionally caring, and within three days, my wife was discharged.
Her recovery had its challenges, but in three months, she was fully healed.
Faith Through the Storm
Looking back, we see God’s divine hand guiding us through every moment.
Despite multiple scans failing to reveal the baby’s gender, my wife had dreamed twice that she was carrying a baby girl.
Her younger sister and my elder sister had also dreamt the same thing.
Each of those dreams became a reality on the day of delivery.
Through this journey, we remained steadfast in prayer, surrounded by family and friends who lifted us up.
Today, our daughter is a living testimony that faith, perseverance, and divine grace can overcome even the greatest medical challenges.
Would You Have Made the Same Choice?
This journey was filled with pain, uncertainty, and tough decisions but also hope, faith, and victory.
What would you have done in our situation? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Daniel Dela Dunoo is a writer, editor, blogger & published author. He writes from a Judeo-Christian worldview. He can be emailed at:dudelda3@yahoo.com. Blog: http://danieldeladunoo.blogspot.com / http:theroyalwordsmithgh.wordpress.com
