story

Azaria's Story(back to Azaria's page)

My name is Keisha. I am the oldest of 5 children( I guess my parents love sex) LOL...My youngest brother is 5yrs old (seriously). I am 22 yrs old (from Atlanta, GA) and married to Stephen (27yrs old from Syracuse, NY) since June 16, 2001. We met during his last year in college (go figure)! We were surprised to find out that we were pregnant in March 2002 because the docs told Stephen that he wouldn't be able to have kids (although we know that prayer changes things).
At first I was unhappy because I planned to get my Masters soon after I graduated in Apr. 2002. But, we decided to wait because we were going to move for school. And we felt like we should have the baby before we left...that way we could save more $$$ since this was not expected.   I went through the pregnancy without morning sickness or cravings or any other pains of pregnancy. I worked out (I'm a cheerleading coach that truly likes to be involved in practice) and coached like I normally would (with sense though)! I didn't have high blood pressure or swelling at all during the pregnancy and I really didn't gain too much weight (19lbs in all). My girls (that I coach for) didn't find out that I was pregnant until I was in my 7th month...and that was only because my hubby told them! So I guess I carried the baby pretty well. My cheerleaders gave me a baby shower on the day of our last football game. It was so sweet! They bought so many cute things!
Anyway, my mother wanted me to fly up for a baby shower in Nov. So I got clearance from my docs to do so. They allow you to fly up until 36 wks. I decided to spend 1wk(Oct.27-Nov 3) up there because I wanted to make sure I recuperated from the flight.
So I flew up on Oct 27...I was 33 wks. The flight was wonderful...only 45 min. I had a good week without any problems until Saturday. I started sneezing and getting flu like symptoms (hot/cold feeling)...but I didn't think anything of it since I came from a warm/hot climate to cold and rain. I just figured it was my body reacting to the weather change.   Anyway...on Saturday (which was also baby shower day) I had to lie down because I just didn't feel well. After lying down for a while, I felt fine until later that night, when the same type of feeling came over me. I called hubby in FL and told him to pray for me cause it felt like something bad was going to happen.
The next morning (Sunday, Nov.3) my parents took me to the airport. I felt much better. No flu-like symp. or anything. My dad carried my luggage to be checked in...we all said good-bye and I headed for the terminal. Just before I sat down in the terminal, I got the flu-like symptoms again, so I went to the restroom, relieved myself, doused my face with cold water and went to wait for boarding to begin. When I sat down, it felt as though the baby had dropped. It was very uncomfortable to sit. Approx. 15-20 min later I boarded the plane. The pilot announces that all the runways had been shut down except one...so...all planes were landing and taking off from the same runway!!! The flu-like symptoms got worse and it was harder for me to find comfort sitting! Finally after approx. 10-15 min our plane was in the air. I went to the restroom and tried to pull it together.
This was my first pregnancy so I really didn't know if any of this was normal. Anyway...after I came from the restroom, the flight attendants gave me some cranberry juice and ice...it helped, but not much. Finally, the plane landed. To my surprise I can barely walk! Somehow I get to the baggage claim area and to a pay phone. I called my husband on his cell to tell him where I was and that I couldn't walk. In less than 1 min, he finds me and helps me to the car. He gets my luggage then we rush to the emergency room (2 min away from airport).
By the time we got to the hospital I felt horrible. I was in so much pain from the baby's position that I couldn't sit anymore. I go to the emergency room and they send us to the maternity floor. They wheeled me up in a wheelchair and decided I needed to answer a trillion questions and sign a billion papers first!!! I finally got a room and got changed into one of their fashionable gowns. They asked me if I was having contractions, bleeding, etc...All to which I answered no! So they hook me to a monitor (heart monitor...I think) and couldn't find a heartbeat at first...then they found a faint beat... (That now I think was mine). So they start prepping me for an emergency c-sec. Some lady put her whole arm up me (tmi...I know) and said something about the baby's head...another nurse was shaving me and another was putting the catheter in (that junk hurt too). All of this plus the pain I was already in! Then I was rushed to the OR where I was gassed and knocked out. Then I woke up.
Some things are kind of fuzzy because they had me on morphine when I awoke. I remember my husband being there. They wouldn't let him in during the operation so I knew that the op. was over. I immediately asked about the baby. I don't remember who told me...I just remember the screaming and crying afterwards. The nurses began asking if I wanted to hold her and everything...I just kept saying no!!! My husband just held my hand and looked on helplessly. I don't know how long that lasted, but somewhere amidst all the crying and screaming, I remembered God's love and grace. My tears stopped rolling out of pain and I began rejoicing because of all the good that came from my daughter (I know it sounds crazy). I requested Azaria be brought into my room. I was 34 wks when I had her. She was 5lbs 2oz and 18-1/4 inches long...and looked as though she were only sleeping! She was perfect. We cuddled her and talked to her and thanked God for her (remember my husband was told that he couldn't have kids). It was so wonderful to see him hold a daughter that he was told he couldn't have! Then there was a peace that just came over the entire room and stayed there until I left. Everyone who entered the room commented on it. It was so beautiful.
My parents flew down and witnessed God working through so many people. Friends cooked, grocery shopped, prayed, gave $$, visited, etc. I cried because I missed her and because she was my daughter, but I was thankful that she has the best nanny ever! I realized how much God's sacrifice hurt, but how selfless he was in giving! Anyway, I later found out that the cause of death was placental abruption (placenta ripped away from the uterus wall). I was also told that if I had not gotten there when I did...I would have bled to death. The pain that I felt came from internal bleeding. My docs were shaken because I had no symptoms of placental abruption or anything. The nurses said that there was really nothing that I could've done to stop it. I asked about the flu-symptoms and the flight and they said neither had anything to do with what happened. I had to have a blood transfusion because I lost so much blood and my count continued to drop.
I was released after 4 days of antibiotics, fluids, and blood. Leaving without a baby felt weird and it hurt, but I was still at peace. I will say that my recovery has been great. I was back to normal weight @ 2wk check-up. I love to see people who appreciate their kids. It's so weird how after you lose someone dear, things like that are easier to see. My husband and I talk about her often and we have grown even closer. I am thankful to even be alive today. Azaria will always be our first born.
We both know that there is a piece of our hearts with her name on it! We also agree that she would want us to live and grow in God so that's what we have chosen to do. She is a portion of our testimony and always a part of our lives.

If you have any questions...I truly don't mind answering them! Just click here to email me.
Thanks for reading!