Who Is Like God?

After three C-Sections and a determination not to have any more children the Lord resurrected my wife's womb. A year ago we were almost certain that we would not have any more children. My wife's uterus and bladder was severely scarred from the prior C-Sections. Doctors advised that it would be too risky to have another child and having another C-Section would likely result in harm to baby or mother or possibly hysterectomy. Elders and church members told me to mutilate myself. Family members said we should be done having kids. Marie and I both wanted more children though we had many fears about it, (health, finances, resources, mental stability, etc).

After our first was born my wife and I wrestled for years over contraception. We used various forms but always against our conscience. God had mercy on us. After watching two documentaries on contraception from a biblical worldview we repented that night and came together again. The Lord opened our womb immediately. It was like God's blessing for our repentance.

We figured we'd be having another C-Section but after much research we learned that having another C-Section was riskier than having another child vaginally. Our insurance provider would not allow for a vaginal delivery (VBAC) after three sections (most won't allow you after only one). Our former OB/GYN warned us sharply that we would have to have another C-Section. We left Kaiser and chose another provider. After more research we found that having a home birth with midwives would be our best and only option. We found Charm City Midwives located in Baltimore, MD over an hour away from us. It was right outside of how far they were willing to drive but they agreed. We ended paying out of pocket for half the expense where normally, our birth would have been free. It was worth the price.

Back in October when we found out that we were pregnant, Marie hemorrhaged and almost lost the baby. From there after several ongoing infections, unceasing nausea, unceasing contractions, round ligament pains and what was by far her hardest pregnancy, losing our church home, losing my job in March, my health continuing to spiral down, the week of Marie's due date came. I was more anxious than I'd ever been in my life. Panic attacks were happening weekly to monthly. Crippling anxiety had consumed me daily. I was only a shell of a man.

On June 9th, after nightmares, Sarah vomiting and having a seizure the NIGHT BEFORE Marie's due date, a neighbor confidently telling Marie she would be going back to the hospital, Marie's due date came. We were under attack as we had been for the last several months. Satan was busy. The next morning Marie began having active labor contractions at 8:00am. Our excellent Doula and two Midwives all arrived by 8:00pm that night and pushing began. After intense screaming and despair for her and listening to the Psalms and strengthening my weak knees for me, Micaiah Lee Samuels was born out of an unmedicated Marie at 12:21am 06/11/2020 weighing 7lbs, 13oz on our living room floor. I knew not how I'd survive this, but I hoped in my God all the way through. God is awesome and my wife is a warrior.

I thought it was all over and so I went back upstairs with my precious little boy. I walked up the steps to show my first born imagining that I'd faint at any point from the anxiety. I took him back down minutes later so I could go to sleep and rest my body. Things were getting quiet. I suspected something was wrong. Marie was bleeding. Someone needed to take her to the hospital. They asked me. I was not in my right mind to drive. The midwives agreed to go with her. I went back upstairs. I trusted the Lord to sustain me. He never fails me.

Minutes later Marie called me to come down stairs. I came down to find my living room filled with at least 8 firefighters and paramedics. I looked outside and the whole street was lit up with firetrucks and ambulances. Marie was too weak to walk.

She had a vaginal tear that the midwives felt would be better if stitched by a surgeon (the awesome midwife Bayla is equipped to stitch up minor tears but she wanted the best for my wife and this tear was deeper in the canal). I handed my wife her slippers kissed her and headed back toward the stairs. Our amazing Doula offered to hold my baby the rest of the night while I recover.

Marie called in the middle of the night frustrated because the doctor was insulting her decision to have a home birth and saying it might take 12 hours for a COVID-19 test to come back. Marie needed to be home within a few hours to feed our baby again. I prayed and hoped in my God. The doctor changed her mind about giving the COVID-19 test and went on and did the surgery in the ER. My wife was ready by 6:00am. After an hour of sleep I got up and drove to the hospital to get my wife. I'm sure it wasn't safe for me to drive in the condition that I was in, but I am a man and the Lord has made me strong in the strength He provides.

I'm thankful for the several churches that were praying for us though all of this. We felt at times that we had lost everyone in our life over these past 9 months, but God is faithful and with Him and the saints He provides in due season we are never alone.

In no particular order, I'm thankful for Shelley Hillman in North Carolina who appeared in the film that convicted us to have more children. Her counsel and the prayers of her church kept us in this season. I'm thankful for Heather Rouleau in Texas and her support and prayers. I'm thankful for Eric J. Dolce, Nana Dolce and our godchildren Jael and Noel for their prayers. Eric, who I've always leaned on for prayer and support during our births has been there for me when no one has. I'm thankful for Wendy Carpenter in North Carolina and her prayers. I'm thankful for Lynn Gutmann in Vermont and her church for praying for us. I'm thankful for Glenn Schreiber in Virginia for his prayers. I'm thankful for grandma Carol Alexander Fredericks and her family for their prayers over the last several months. I'm thankful for the members of Temple Hills Baptist Church who have supported us even in the midst of a particularly trying season with us. I'm thankful for my family and my Facebook friends who have prayed and supported us. I'm thankful for Bayla and Tova our midwives and Leah our Doula who were exactly what we needed in a birth team. We would NOT have been able to do this without their medical expertise, counsel and encouragement. I'm thankful for my children Azariah Aidenn, Hannah Marie and Sarah Haven who prayed for this child, and stayed up through the night in excitement for him to come.

Marie and Micaiah are both doing extremely well minus expected soreness and pain for Marie.

I prayed for victory and for God to subdue all of our naysayers.

"Caiah" is his nickname, the name of the device (CAYA) we used to prevent him from coming for two years. Micaiah means, "WHO IS LIKE GOD?"

TYRELL LEE SAMUELS, Maryland