Moving Mountains: Leila Harper's Birth Story
tPhilippians 4:6-8
Philippians 4:6-8
Philippians 4: 6-8
Be anxious for nothing but through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart an mind in Christ Jesus.
Ever deal with something bigger than what you thought it would be? I found myself asking God throughout this journey, "How did I get here?" Of course I know the answer of how I got pregnant but I didn't expect all the events that transpired after.
Anyone that really knows me knows I love an adventure. Roller coasters, water slides with the dark tunnels, ziplining high above the trees, skydiving thousands of feet above that's my kind of adventure.
This journey is not that. This was not fun but I never doubted my God would see me through, through it all.
This is the story of Leila Harper's entrance into the world and her momma, wild at heart momma, that carried her despite doctor's reports.
Four years ago I found myself at a NYC bouldering club. I know what is a black girl from the Bronx doing bouldering anyway? That's just how I roll. Finding strength to climb all the way to the top I found myself struggling to get down without any assistance from the climbers I had to jump several feet to the ground when my fingers started slipping. Ouch! Weeks later I developed a large hemotoma on my petite sized chest. That was my last time bouldering.
Doctors in NY told me it was bruise that would go away with time.
The next year I started a new job in Atlanta as an elementary teacher. I started dating this cute, funny guy and we got married two years after. Two months after we were married I found out I was pregnant! A lot happening in a short matter of time! But it was everything I prayed for so it was all good. When God answers prayers he doesn't give you the time it will manifest just be ready when they do!
Meanwhile, this thing in my chest was like a science experiment changing from a rash, to a bump, lumps, discolored spots. I received a biopsy two months before my wedding revealing it to be blood and tissue. I promised I would do something about it after I got married. After the wedding it went away...so I thought.
My pregnancy started like any normal one. My 1st sonogram showed a healthy and strong heartbeat. The picture identified this tiny figure hanging on like a cliffhanger from the top of my uterus.
Undeniable mine.
Month after month Leila hit every milestone. Checkup after checkup confirmed the definite health of my baby girl. My husband and I were on the road to being proud beaming parents.
I taught 1st grade through the all day sickness I was experiencing and even taught dance afterschool. My dance group was preparing for the school's production of The Lion King Jr. I was unstoppable with my ever increasing baby bump!
That is until I had a doctors appointment with a hematologists; recommended because of low iron found in my blood. The doctor was alarmed at my high pulse and recommended I go to the ER after attempts of bringing it down failed. As I sat there with cancer patients receiving treatment I was very calm telling myself this will be over soon and I will go and enjoy my spring break.
But it was not over. The ER doctors recommend I get a CT Scan. All I could think about was Leila Harper. "C'mon God I'm 8 months pregnant. Why did this have to happen now? I hate hospitals and here I am stuck in one during my spring break 8 months pregnant. What is going on? I'm healthy and strong. I teach dance!" They warned me refusal can cost me my baby's life and my life. CT results showed a large mass located in my left chest wall. That's when everything flipped. Doctors began to treat me like glass slipping from shaky hands.
This was my mountain. This is where my faith comes in. Years of trusting and believing a big God helped me face doctors with a firm assurance that I would move this mountain. I was having faith for me and my baby that was a double portion.
After a needle biopsy and numerous lung and heart tests and ultrasounds I was released with instructions to take it easy and prepare for induction to get the baby out early.
I was able to make it 40 weeks staying at home the rest of my pregnancy.
“When two or three are gathered in my name I am in the midst.”
My husband, mother, family and friends never stopped trusting God. I had to be still and trust God that he would see me through and give me the labor I desired. The day before I was scheduled to be induced my OB doctor gives me the chilling news that the anesthesiologist refused to perform anesthesia on me nervous of the effects due to the mass. They were transferring to another hospital with a stronger history in my complication. To make a long journey shorter the hospital they transferred me to refused to perform anesthesia just in case I needed it. So they were transferring me again! So they transported me to Emory Midtown; at this point I was weary but not downhearted because I knew my mountain was moving so I could have the best team of doctors. I was transferred via ambulance to the new location. Through contractions, highway bumps and gurney straps I told myself be anxious for nothing we were God's daughters and he had us in the palm of his hand.
I had the attitude if no doctor was willing to deliver my child God would send an angel to perform delivery that's how much he loves me and Leila Harper! Wednesday I was admitted into Emory and Friday morning at 6:09 am Leila Harper was born into the hands of confident kindhearted professionals. My mountain was demolished. My faith and God's grace had everything to do with that!
Strong and alert little Leila looked at her mommy and smiled. What a journey. What they told me I couldn't do I did. They said I wasn't strong enough to push and I pushed her out in ten to eleven pushes.
“Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might!”
God always takes care of children. That's some kind of love! Whatever the situation you are going through know that God is in control. All you have to do is have faith that whatever you ask he will do it. If you ask for healing, it is done. If you ask for his protection it is done. If you ask for his forgiveness it is done. When you accept Jesus as your personal Savior you are adopted into God's family and there is nothing that can separate you from his love!
My song for this whole situation is Travis Green's "Made a Way"
and I kept singing" You move mountains! You cause walls to fall! In your power perform miracles! There is nothing that's impossible! And I'm standing here only because you made a way!"
One day I will tell Leila Harper the story of how her God moved a mountain on her and her mother's behalf.
