In the heartwarming tale of resilience and love, Rebekah, a 26-year-old mother, shares her incredible journey with her premature baby, Roxanne. It’s a story that reminds us of the strength of the human spirit and the power of a mother’s love.
“There were several terrifying moments when we were unsure if Roxanne would survive,” Rebekah recounts. “I was rushed into the operating room because my daughter’s heartbeat had stopped. It was dreadful, but the midwives assured me that Roxanne would be born without making a sound. However, when she let out a whimper, everything became a bit blurry.”
At just two weeks old, Roxanne was tinier than a Coke bottle, and she was so delicate that Rebekah was afraid to hold her. The journey had begun with uncertainty and fear, but it was also filled with hope and determination.
Rebekah, a school chef on maternity leave, cherishes every moment spent at home with Roxanne, celebrating holidays like Christmas with her and her older sister, Isabella. It’s a testament to the preciousness of family and the joy that a new life brings.
In October of 2020, Rebekah’s pregnancy with Roxanne almost came to a tragic end when an ovarian cyst ruptured, just four weeks into her pregnancy. “I was hurried to the hospital in severe pain and given both good and bad news. I was advised that, despite being pregnant and in the early stages of my pregnancy, there was a high likelihood that I would miscarry since I needed emergency treatment to address a burst cyst.”
Rebekah’s journey took a critical turn when she was admitted to the hospital on April 2, 2021, at 28 weeks gestation. She had been feeling ill and noticed decreased activity from the baby. Concerned, she was placed on a monitor to keep an eye on her baby’s well-being. Three hours later, the baby’s heartbeat decreased, and the room filled with medical personnel. The situation was frightening.
“I was taken into the operating room, and Roxanne was delivered via emergency C-section within minutes. She uttered a small moan as she was delivered, but then she lost consciousness, and the doctors worked on her for the eleven longest minutes of my life. When she was hurried away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), I saw a fleeting sight of her in an incubator wrapped in a plastic bag to keep her warm, with a small oxygen mask on her face.”
Rebekah’s daily visits to the NICU were both hopeful and heartbreaking. Leaving the hospital without her child each day was devastating. However, they received support from the incredible organization, Emily’s Star, which donated a neonatal box to help them through this challenging time.
Rebekah reflects on those early days, “We took the picture of her with the Coke bottle when she was two weeks old to show our friends and relatives how tiny she was. I cannot believe how delicate she was.”
After spending 96 days in the hospital, Roxanne could finally return home. While she still requires oxygen support, she celebrated her first Christmas with her family, bringing an extra layer of warmth and joy to the holiday season.
“Christmas is always lovely, but this year is especially beautiful since we have our little miracle with us,” Rebekah declares. It’s a story of love, hope, and the incredible strength of a family that faced adversity head-on and emerged stronger and more united than ever. Roxanne’s journey is a testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.
