A Birthday That Always Brings Me Back
Every year, when we celebrate our son’s birthday, my heart goes back to that period of my life. A birthday is usually a joyful day, but for me, it is also a time of deep remembrance. I remember my pregnancy. I remember the fear. I remember the hospital. I remember not knowing if my husband would live. And in the middle of all those dark and uncertain days, I remember how God was with us in every detail.
Our son’s life began in a time when everything around us felt fragile. But that is why his life is such a strong testimony to me. When I look at him, I do not only see my son. I see the faithfulness of God. That is why I call him our Easter baby, because that period of our life felt like death and resurrection at the same time.
The Day Everything Started
The day after I found out that I was pregnant with our second baby, something very frightening happened.
I was at the office, working, and thinking about how I should announce my pregnancy. I had just returned to work that same week after a long maternity leave for our first baby. So I was wondering how to tell the company that I was pregnant again so soon.
While I was sitting and thinking about this, suddenly I felt blood pouring from my body. It was not a small amount. There was so much blood that my chair was covered with it. At that moment, I knew something was wrong. I thought I was losing the baby.
I called the facility manager, explained what had happened, asked them to take care of the chair, and told them I had to go to the emergency room immediately. I went home first to change and prepare to go to the hospital.
At that time, my husband was at home with a very high fever. He had been sick for several days and was very weak. He was not in a condition to take me to the hospital, so I had to call his mother and ask for help. When she arrived, she found both of us in a difficult situation — me bleeding and pregnant, and her son very sick.
She decided to take both of us to the doctor.
Two Emergencies at the Same Time
First, we stopped at a doctor’s office so my husband could be examined. The doctor said it was the flu and gave him medication. But we were not comfortable with that diagnosis because the color of his urine was dark brown, and that did not seem normal.
Since we were already going to the hospital to see my gynecologist, we decided to also go to the emergency room for him.
My gynecologist received me very quickly. She did an ultrasound and examined me. I still remember her surprised voice when she told me what had happened.
She said I had a placental abruption, and in most cases, the baby does not survive. She said that in 99% of cases, the baby would be gone. But the baby was still there. Alive.
She told me I had to stop working immediately and be extremely careful. No stress. No physical effort. Complete rest for the entire pregnancy.
I was shocked. I had not even announced my pregnancy yet, and now I had to announce not only that I was pregnant, but also that I had to stop working for the entire pregnancy.
I did not know how I was going to handle this, but there was no choice. The baby’s life was more important than anything else.
After my appointment, we went to the emergency room for my husband.
When My Husband Was Hospitalized
At the hospital, his condition became worse, and the doctors decided to hospitalize him immediately. They needed to run many tests to understand what was happening because his condition was serious.
We left him at the hospital, and I went home to prepare his things for hospitalization. Then I went to my office to announce my pregnancy and that the doctor had ordered me to stop working.
The company directors were not happy. They even tried to find a way to fire me. But this happened in France, and by law, pregnancy cannot be a reason for termination. So legally, they could not fire me, even if they wanted to.
At that time, our daughter was only five months old. I was pregnant and on strict rest, and my husband was in the hospital. I could not stay alone at home with a baby in that situation, so I decided to stay at my mother-in-law’s house until my husband got better.
But things did not get better quickly.
“You Should Prepare for the Worst”
Days passed, and the doctors still did not know what my husband had. They ran many tests and called different specialists. His condition got worse and worse. Every organ in his body was infected.
One day, a doctor asked to speak with me privately. I still remember that conversation very clearly because my life felt like it stopped at that moment.
He told me that the doctors were doing everything they could to save my husband, but they could not guarantee that they would find the cause in time. He told me I should be prepared for the worst — that I could lose him.
I felt like I was in a bad dream. I could not accept what I was hearing. We had a five-month-old baby and another baby in my womb. How could I lose my husband at that time?
I remember going outside the hospital after that conversation. I tried to calm myself, but instead of calming down, I became angry. Very angry.
I spoke to God very honestly that day.
I said, “God, this is not fair. You cannot take him now. We have a five-month-old baby and another baby coming. I will not raise these two children alone. I will not accept this. Even You would not want these children to grow up without their father. If this is Your plan, I am sorry, but I will fight with You.”
That day, I did not pray a polite prayer. I fought. I cried. I argued. I begged. I refused to accept that my husband could die.
At home, our five-month-old daughter was starting to look for her father. It was the first time she had not seen him for so long, but I was not allowed to take her to the hospital.
The Prayer That Changed Everything
Our friends, who were pastors at our church, came to visit us at the hospital. I explained everything to them, and we prayed together.
I still remember very clearly what they prayed for. They did not only pray, “God, heal him.” They prayed something very specific:
“God, help the doctors find the exact cause of his sickness so they can treat him correctly.”
A few days later, the same doctor who told me to prepare for the worst came back with new information. He said they were still not 100% sure, but they believed it could be cytomegalovirus, and they would start treatment for that.
The treatment worked.
Little by little, my husband started getting better. Day by day, he improved. It was slow, but it was clear that he was recovering.
To me, this was already a miracle.
Another Fear — For the Baby
My husband was moved out of intensive care and placed in the post-surgery section because there was no other room available.
My gynecologist also worked at that hospital and visited her patients every morning in different departments. One day, while she was doing her rounds, she saw our last name on a patient list. The name sounded familiar to her, so she asked about the patient and discovered that it was my husband.
The hospital called me and asked me to come immediately for a blood test.
My doctor explained something very serious to me. She said that because my husband had cytomegalovirus, and because I was pregnant, if I was not immunized, the virus could affect the baby and cause severe disabilities, especially mental disabilities.
I was very afraid again. It felt like every time one problem was solved, another problem appeared.
They did the blood test, and we waited for the result.
When the result came, my doctor told me, “You are immunized. The baby is safe.”
I felt so relieved. It was like another mountain had been removed from my shoulders.
Another miracle.
Life Coming Back
After a few weeks in the hospital, my husband was finally discharged. He came home very weak, but alive. We were together again.
The pregnancy continued, but because of the earlier placental abruption, I had to be very careful the entire time. Later, the doctor decided I would have a C-section because the baby was not in the right position (head-down position) for birth.
During the C-section, when the doctor took the baby out, she told us that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck several times. That was the reason he could not turn into the right position for birth.
If we had tried a natural birth, it could have been very dangerous for the baby.
But the baby was born healthy.
Why I Call Him Our Easter Baby
Our son was born during Easter weekend.
For Christians, Easter is the celebration of resurrection — when Jesus came back to life after death.
When I think about that period of our life, I feel that we also lived something like a resurrection.
I almost lost the baby at the beginning of the pregnancy.
I almost lost my husband.
The baby could have been sick because of the virus.
The birth could have been dangerous because of the umbilical cord.
But in the end:
I was protected.
The baby lived.
My husband lived.
The baby was healthy.
That is why I call our son our Easter baby.
Not only because he was born at Easter, but because that period of our life was a death and life at the same time for our whole family.
It felt like God gave life back to us — my husband’s life, my baby’s life, and also my faith.
What I Learned from That Season
When I think about that time today, I realize that God was with us in every detail, even when we were afraid, even when we did not understand, even when I was angry and fighting with Him.
He did not abandon us because I was angry.
He did not punish me because I argued with Him.
He saw my fear.
He saw my heart.
He saw my children.
And He had mercy on us.
That period taught me that faith is not always quiet and perfect. Sometimes faith cries. Sometimes faith shouts. Sometimes faith says, “God, I don’t understand, but I am not letting go.”
I also learned that God works through everything:
- Through doctors
- Through friends
- Through family
- Through timing
- Through laws
- Through small details we don’t even notice at the time
Nothing was random. When I look back, everything looks like it was guided step by step.
Remembering His Faithfulness
Now, every year, when we celebrate our son’s birthday, I do not only celebrate his life. I remember everything God did for us during that time.
That period was one of the hardest periods of our lives. But it was also one of the periods where we saw God’s hand the most clearly.
So when I see my son, I always think:
“You are here because God decided you would be here.”
“Your father is here because God decided he would live.”
“Our family is still together because God protected us.”
This is why I cannot forget.
This is why I am grateful.
This is why I praise Him.
Not only when life is easy.
But because I have seen what He can do when life is impossible.
I Will Praise Him All My Life
When I look back on that season, one thing comes out of my heart very naturally:
Gratitude.
God was there when I was bleeding in the office.
God was there when the doctor saw the baby still alive.
God was there when the company could not fire me because of the law.
God was there in the hospital rooms.
God was there when our pastors prayed.
God was there in the doctor’s decisions.
God was there when the doctors found the virus.
God was there when I found out I was immunized.
God was there during the C-section.
God was there when our son was born.
God was there when my husband came back home.
He was there in every detail.
So today, I can only say this:
I will praise Him all the days of my life.
Because I have seen His goodness.
I have seen His mercy.
I have seen His faithfulness.
And every year, when we celebrate our Easter baby, I am reminded again:
God is faithful. Even in the darkest moments, He is still working, still protecting, still giving life.