Peace in My Heart: The Story of Kate

I’m 30 weeks pregnant, sitting in the passenger seat as my friend races down the road in her minivan, and suddenly, I know that I am ready to deliver my baby. 

How did I find myself in this situation?

Just a few days earlier, I was dealing with what I thought were normal pregnancy aches, along with laryngitis I was dealing with. I woke up this Monday morning with it still there, but I brushed it off. I gave my husband a quick goodbye as he left for his business trip, believing it was just another day.

As the morning progressed, the discomfort turned into pain. I could no longer walk and also couldn't talk because of the laryngitis, so I texted a friend for help with contacting my doctor. She arrived and after consulting with the doctor, we decided I needed to go to the hospital to ensure everything was alright. Although I was told not to drive myself, I thought I could handle it. Thankfully, my friend insisted we follow the advice and arranged care for our kids before we sped off.

The pain intensified during our 20-minute drive, and halfway there, I found myself bracing against the car. In a shocking moment, I felt my baby making her entrance.

My friend immediately called 911, but as they instructed us to wait for help on the side of the road, I knew we couldn’t risk it. At only 30 weeks, my baby’s lungs weren’t ready. I desperately motioned for my friend to GO!

While still on the phone, the dispatcher guided us to wrap the baby in a blanket and hold her with her head lower than her body. Lacking a blanket, I used my sweatpants to keep her warm as my friend sped over 100 miles per hour on the freeway.

My heart raced as I focused on my newborn, and then, she went limp. I was scared the worst had happened. Just moments from the hospital, my friend made a bold left turn through multiple lanes at a red light, honking constantly to let others know we were dealing with an emergency.

In that moment, I saw my baby’s eyes flutter open and her tiny fingers move. I had hope, we were almost there! The peace I felt during this time will always be remembered, I felt secure with my decision and knew we would make it. 

We pulled into the hospital, and my friend dashed into Labor and Delivery for help. The charge nurse and secretary rushed out, with the secretary quickly cutting the baby’s cord and the charge nurse sprinting to the NICU, cradling my baby.

I sat there, my heart pounding, waiting for what felt like an eternity for news about my little girl. After 45 long minutes, I finally received the update: she was alive! A respiratory therapist, experienced in caring for such small, pre-term infants, was able to quickly intubate her and give her the chance to survive. 

Amidst all the chaos, we realized my husband had no idea what had just unfolded. With my voice still gone, my angel friend reached out to him, sharing the news that I had given birth in her minivan and that our baby was on life support.

After six weeks in the NICU with no major complications, we finally brought our precious girl home. 

We named her Kate Grace, and she has continued to be the miracle she showed us in the beginning. She is a peacemaker and spreads joy wherever she goes. We are forever grateful for her sweet spirit and the love she brings to our lives.