I was more than 8 month pregnant with my fifth child and was scheduled for a non-stress test on December 23rd. I was tired, grouchy and somewhat ambivalent about the miracle God had prepared for me.
Just before I left work I realized that the baby had not moved for several hours. I had a glass of orange juice, but there was still no movement. I needed to drive 30 minutes to pick up my oldest child who was in after school care and bring her 30 minutes back to my day care provider, who was taking care of my other three pre-school children before I could go to the doctor. During that time, I did not feel the baby move at all.
Upon arrival, I nervously told the receptionist that I hadn’t felt the baby move for several hours. I was brought into the exam room and a monitor was attached to my huge stomach, but there was no heartbeat. The technician was very calm, but I was terrified. She moved the monitor all over trying to find the heartbeat. I prayed fervently for the 10 minutes it took her to find the heartbeat. She left the room and came back with the doctor who told me he wanted to send me to the hospital for an ultrasound, then he ran to the next room to catch the ultrasound technician before she left and she agreed to give me an ultrasound although it was “after hours” for her and was 2 days before Christmas.
The baby scored a perfect 10, and my obstetrician told me I could go home, but he wanted me back first thing in the morning for repeat tests. I returned in the morning as directed and told a different receptionist that I had a scare last night when they couldn’t find the baby’s heartbeat. She replied, “Oh, that was you? The technician is my best friend and she called me sobbing right after your test. She was certain she was going to have to tell you your baby had died.” I am certain that God performed a miracle and restored my baby to life. God turned around my thinking to truly appreciate the great gift of a healthy child. Kevin was born 3 weeks later in perfect health.
Bernadette – Cohasset MA – 1994
