Behind the Scenes: I’m Thankful for Life

Over two weeks early, Braden Allen entered our world weighing 6 lbs. 14 oz. on Sat. November 28th at 4:39 a.m.  Expecting my grandson to be a Christmas present that year, he ended up being what we were thankful for that Thanksgiving weekend. The announcement of his birth could be seen all over Facebook, yet readers were clueless as to what a true miracle it was.

Behind the Scenes

My 37-week pregnant daughter, Leslie, complained about not feeling well. I assumed her tiredness came from our annual Thanksgiving dinner where we fed 753 meals. Besides, she also hit some Black Friday sales…you know, the Black Friday deals that aren’t on Friday. When evening rolled around, though, her temperature rose to 103, sending her to the ER.

Immediately hooked up to monitors and I.V.’s, full of fluids and antibiotics,  her temp continued to climb to 104.1. Removing her sheet, it finally came down. The nurses explained her antibiotic prescribed for her UTI two weeks earlier didn’t work and the infection had spread. In fact, they believed she was septic. Flashing back, I recalled losing a church member from a UTI that became septic. To avoid panic, I focused on praying and keeping her calm.

Focusing was necessary again when her fever spiked to 104.3. Simultaneously, her blood pressure dropped and both baby and mom’s heart rates increased. Grieving inside as the nurses buried my baby in ice bags, I attempted to console her for two hours until her fever broke. This stress thwarted her into contractions in which the baby tolerated poorly. His heart rate spiraled at the end of each contraction. I knew the seriousness of those dips without a nurse’s explanation since a monitor I wore 20 years ago revealed similar dips, resulting in an emergency C-section.

I prayed silently, “Lord give the hospital staff wisdom. I don’t want to lose my baby or my grandson.”

Life is Precious

They decided an emergency C-section would save the baby and allow easier treatment for mom. We praised God when learning Braden Allen was found to be healthy with no complications.

After no sleep that night, I stayed at the hospital with my son-in-law while my husband left to hold a memorial service for a church member and dear friend. We rejoined later that afternoon…just in time for another round. Her temp came back with a vengeance, reaching 105 with a heart rate of 160. Texts requesting prayer were sent as nurses clothed her in ice bags, and bathed her in alcohol.

A second antibiotic was added to the regimen, but no fever returned after those prayers even though the Dr. said it would (just shouldn’t go that high or last that long).  CAT scans and other methods pursued to ensure infected kidneys wouldn’t shut down. Regular lab work also continued on both Leslie and her baby.

Once fever-free for 48 hours, Leslie would be able to take her baby home. During that time, a new problem emerged – anemia. Leslie had to receive 2 pints of blood before leaving on Tuesday. Fighting a deadly infection while pregnant, surgery, nor anemia took her life. Braden will learn when he grows older how God spared his life as well. You see, bacteria had traveled discovered it on the placenta itself. He was minutes away from being attacked by an infection too strong for his little body to withstand, yet not any sign of infection was discovered in all of the testings. God’s timing is incredulously perfect!

Now you know why every Thanksgiving we are thankful for life itself. Never take it for granted. Life is precious.

Enjoy it while you can – tired, or not.

This story is referenced, along with issues with my daughter’s next pregnancy, and other trials I call “life’s storm” in my upcoming book, “5 Keys to Surviving Life’s Storms”. This E-book will be available within two weeks. Keep your eyes on the newsletter or social media for the exact release date.

Are you thankful for Life? Tell me why in the comments below.

© 2020, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.