Beech Tree News Network

Her first, a beautiful baby girl, whose name is Brianna Azra Shena, was a normal pregnancy, full term (plus two weeks over), and everything seemed to be just perfect. But unfortunately, during the birthing process, the umbilical cord wrapped around her that sweet babies neck, causing her to die. Her birthday is August 19, 1999. A day the world stop turning for Erica. 

In 2002, Erica once again became pregnant and miscarried in the early weeks of her pregnancy. Heartbroken and grief stricken, Erica began to think that being a mother may not be in the hand that life had dealt her. But she prayed God would bless her with a child because she just knew that being a mother is what she was suppose to do. She knew "she was not supposed to ask God why", but she couldn't help it. Why was God putting her through all this? Why couldn't she just have a normal pregnancy and give life to a child, as so many other women do? So many "why's" she had filling her head and heart. At times like this, no matter how strong you think your faith may be, it is a struggle not to question God's reasoning. 

In 2010, Erica met and married Antonio Martinez. She wanted to be up front and honest with him and told him that there was a chance that she might never be able to give him a child, the history was there.  But in 2012, they just knew their prayers had been answered, they were pregnant. Extremely scared and nervous about the outcome, but yet so hopeful. But unfortunately, once again, in the first trimester, Erica miscarried and the devastation of loss struck once again. So on August 22, 2012, Erica entered the hospital to have a DNC, to rid her body of yet, another painful loss. ( I put this date because it will play a big part in the story later).

When I asked Erica if the doctors ever gave her a possible medical reason for the miscarriages, she explained that they discovered she had polysistic ovary syndrome PCOS, which is a condition that affects a woman's hormone levels.  This hormone imbalance can make it harder for a woman to become pregnant due to having to many male hormones in her body. She said it is also common with overweight women and women with diabetes. She, at the time, had two strikes against her.

Due to the fact that her weight could possibly be playing a role in why she was miscarrying, Erica chose to have weight loss surgery in order to hopefully, someday, be able to have another child (this time with a happy ending.) During the weight loss process, she went on birth control in order to make sure she didn't get pregnant and something possibly be wrong with the child due to the drugs and procedure she was having to undergo for several months. For 18 years, she has been praying to be a mother. She was willing to take whatever steps were necessary to help her prayers be answered. 

 

After Erica loss a significant amount of weight (she said she stopped counting because it was so much), she went off the birth control and once again, began trying to have a baby. But she and Antonio turned it all over to God and decided that if it was God's plan, they would have a healthy baby and be the parents God meant for them to be, in His time. While praying for this, they considered adoption, foster parenting and other options, but soon decided against all this and to just let God completely do what was in his plan. 

Erica had been praying for years for a healthy, living baby, but after she and Antonio married, they together, were at the altar every Sunday praying for God to bless them. She said during all this, she and her family had a running joke saying that Erica didn't want to be like Sarah, Abraham's wife and give birth at 90. I'm sure with all that she had been through, if it weren't for humor (and of course her family), she wouldn't have made it through. Erica said since they prayed together every Sunday and so many from the congregation prayed with them, she thought no better place to announce the incredible news, In 2016, God answered their constant prayer. They once again were with child.  Erica was sure to bring out the point that three weeks before she found out they were expecting, her mother sent her a scripture in a text message: Exodus 23:26 No one shall be miscarrying or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days

Although more excited than words can explain, Throughout her pregnancy Erica was scared. She said every time the baby didn't move when she thought it should, she would panic. She was overjoyed but on edge, the whole 9 months. But on August 22, 2017, their beautiful baby girl Olivia, was born. Five years from the day she was having a DNC to rid her body of the horrible loss of her third child. She believes this day, things came full circle.

Olivia decided to enter the world six weeks earlier than expected. Erica, Antonio and her father were going to dinner and suddenly, her water broke. Her father fell to his knees immediately, and began praying that the babies lungs would be fully developed since she was so early and that his daughter would not have to face the pain of complications of any sort with this pregnancy or delivery.

Other than being breach, Olivia's birth was a completely normal C-section birth. She entered the world weighing 5 pounds 6 ounces. Erica and Antonio refer to Olivia as their rainbow preemie. When I asked Erica exactly what she meant by a "rainbow" preemie, she said "all the other babies were my storms. God promised Noah that after a storm, there will be a rainbow, Olivia is our rainbow." She continued by saying "God promised Noah that after the storm, there will be a rainbow."  A rainbow baby brings light, but by no means replaces the angel baby. 

I asked Erica and Antonio to describe the joy of having Olivia "the best way I can describe it is that I carried so much pain for so long like a heavy weight on my shoulders that the moment when I saw Olivia's face, it just made all the sadness melt away and left only room for pure joy." She said she often still pinches herself just to make sure this is real, that she really is the mother to an absolutely gorgeous, perfect baby girl. 

I had the opportunity to meet and snuggle this absolutely beautiful child while Erica and her husband shared their miracle with me. Oh my goodness, she is just beautiful and perfect in every way. Definitely an angel from above. Thank you Erica and Antonio for sharing this beautiful miracle with me and allowing me to share it with everyone. This once again proves, God performs miracles everyday. Never ever give up on God, because he sure never gives up on us.

 

About Debby:
In 2014, I felt a calling from God to change the course of my photography. Here is a little info on Today's Miracle Photography:

Memories last forever; I have a deep passion for photography and writing, and have had for many years. I wanted to tie these two together and use my passion for the glory of God. When our granddaughter Lexi (not by blood) was born, and shortly passed, I felt God wanted me to share her story, from that point on, I've felt that calling. To reach out to people that have had miracles performed in their lives, to bring awareness to terminally ill people, people that have lost loved ones, people that struggle with addictions, just various aspects of life that God works miracles in.
God works miracles everyday, share yours with me and lets share it with the world. I believe these people I photo shoot and write about need prayer and the best way to start a prayer chain and praise God, is with a big group of people that will share all over the world. No miracle is to great or small to praise God for.

I have a page on Facebook named Today's Miracle Photography, please follow me there to capture these incredible people's story's and photos as well.

Debby Lanham

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