When Laura came across Patrick in May 2012 at a rental car counter, there was a spark she saw in Patrick from the very first day; however, she did not expect something so ordinary to change her life so beautifully. The feeling of comfort and safety that Patrick’s presence brought her was something she had never felt before. After dating for a few months, Laura packed her life in Michigan in a few suitcases and drove to Alabama with her dog for ten hours. This was when their life together actually began.
Although the decision to move in suddenly, just after a few months of the relationship, that too, a long-distance relationship, felt crazy, it was worth it. Since day one, the couple had their vision set. There were stages of life where they knew the importance of getting married and building a family, and planned on having a big one. The couple got married in June 2014, and since then, they have wanted to start a family. Even at the wedding, the couple joked about honeymoon babies. Imagine the extremity of the wish to have a family?
However, although they were together, living a peaceful life, months passed, and regarding pregnancy, all the couple got were multiple negative tests. Months kept passing, but there was no hope for conceiving a baby despite praying, charting, and repeated testing. After a year of being unable to conceive a baby, the couple decided to visit a doctor. It was a fertility appointment to see if things were okay; however, with no answers coming from the doctors, all they got was disappointment.
Over the years, the disappointment grew so much that it felt like it had consumed the laughter that once echoed in the home, and the love between the couple that could beat any challenge. As Laura was not just struggling with getting pregnant but also saw how her marriage suffered, she fell into depression after countless fights that left her teary, and her prayers that were not being answered. She questioned why God was not choosing her to become a mother, although it had been her wish for so long. The couple kept switching doctors until they found the right one. One who had answers to their questions could bring hope to their suffering marriage. It was Mamie!
She was the first doctor in so many months who was patient enough to listen and analyse the couple’s situation, and also suggested a few tests through which a proper diagnosis was made. Laura had endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, as well as glucose imbalance, and to fix it all, a few surgeries, an appropriate treatment, and a healthy lifestyle accompanied by patience were required. However, it was tough as Laura was so heartbroken that she even suggested that Patrick find a new woman to marry and build a family with. However, he refused and assured her he would stick to her no matter what happened.
In 2017, as a reminder of faith and the hope Laura had left in her heart, she got a tattoo that said to be still, and in the same year, surprisingly, she conceived! Although it was done through IVF, watching the two embryos placed in her womb on 15th November after countless needles, she was hopeful again. The kind of hope she hadn’t felt in so long. Patrick’s presence and support played an integral role in keeping Laura firm in this journey, and when she saw the test results were positive, the couple was in disbelief.
It was a miracle—a moment they waited years for! Today, Josephine, the couple’s daughter, is a part of their beautiful family, and the tattoo Laura got is dear to her as it was her reminder to hold on tight to the belief that God has something for her. Their story is about heartbreak and healing—a reminder not to give up!
