Finally, she was pregnant. After months of trying, it had actually happened. Her heart was pounding. She could not quite believe it. Her mind was racing with excitement and also with nervous questions. Am I ready? Can I even do this? She and her husband had hoped for this for so long. She knew telling him on Valentine’s Day would be the best gift.
The beginning was tough. Beka was so sick all the time. She got so weak she could hardly get out of bed. The medicine from her doctor was the only thing that helped her turn a corner. But by her second trimester, she began to feel better, and for the first time, she could actually enjoy being pregnant. They found out the gender at sixteen weeks. The ultrasound tech grinned and said, “It’s a girl.” Beka immediately started crying.
After that, she went all in on getting ready for the baby. She loved planning and wanted everything to be perfect. Since they both loved the outdoors, she did the nursery in a woodland theme with soft green walls, little foxes and bunnies, and the coziest blankets. They named their daughter Isabella Lee, using the family’s middle name that had been passed down for generations. Beka did everything right. She ate well, stayed active, and took her vitamins. She even gave up her morning coffee. She and her husband grew closer than ever, sharing their excitement with everyone as they waited for their little girl.
Then at thirty weeks, things got scary. The nausea came back, and a sharp pain started under her ribs every time Isabella moved. It kept getting worse. The nurse on the phone said it was probably nothing, but when Beka’s feet and ankles swelled up the next day, she knew that was not true. She looked it up online and saw the word “preeclampsia.” Her stomach dropped. She checked her blood pressure, and it was way too high. Her doctor told her to get to the hospital immediately. After a bunch of tests, the doctor came in the next morning. “Your labs do not look good. You have severe toxemia. Go to the hospital right now. They will likely deliver the baby within the next day.”
Beka was terrified. She packed her hospital bag with shaking hands and crying. It was too early. Her baby was only thirty-one weeks and four days. At the hospital, they started her on IV fluids, magnesium, and steroids to help Isabella’s lungs. The doctors talked about waiting, but soon they decided an emergency C-section was necessary. Lying on the operating table, she could not stop shaking. A nurse leaned in and said gently, “It is going to be okay. We do this all the time.” Then there was some pressure and a brief struggle, and then she heard a tiny, sharp cry. All the fear just melted away, and she was filled with this incredible love. Isabella was here. So small, but fighting already.
Isabella only weighed 2 pounds 13 ounces and was taken straight to the NICU. The next day, when Beka finally held her daughter against her chest, it made her feel stronger. It was exactly what she needed. The NICU became their entire world for 35 days. Beka stayed by her side, watching her get stronger and pumping milk. Then she heard the words she had prayed for: “You can take her home tomorrow.” Beka will never forget the day she carried her daughter through their front door for the first time. Isabella is healthy, full-term, and thriving today. Every restless night reminds Beka of love’s wonders.
