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A mother recounts God's wonderful care.
At the beginning of this story, Julia and Nico Kleinschmidt are parents of five children and expecting their sixth. Julia then recounts the significant and unique challenges she and her family faced due to the premature births of two sons. Above all, however, this is meant to be a testament to God's wonderful comfort and His care.
A bad feeling
Until May 10, 2020, my pregnancy progressed well and there were no complications. However, everything changed on that Sunday, which was also Mother's Day. First thing in the morning, I noticed that I wasn't feeling my baby move as usual. I waited very attentively for my baby to move and was delighted when I finally felt gentle movements. After this eventful day, I noticed again in the evening that my baby was unusually quiet.
A short time later, I felt my baby kick. My husband and I both agreed that it had simply been an exhausting day. I woke up during the night feeling regular contractions. Since I still had nine weeks of pregnancy to go, I thought I could just wait and the contractions would subside. But my husband insisted that we go to the hospital.
At the hospital, they immediately hooked me up to the CTG monitor. The midwife was running around, the doctors were on the phone. I didn't understand what was happening and learned that the baby's heart rate was dropping significantly and that our baby wasn't doing well. They sent me to another room to check my oxygen levels.
When heavy bleeding started shortly afterward, the immediate order was: emergency C-section! Within seconds, the doctor handed me the anesthesia mask. At that moment, I didn't care who else was in the operating room: I prayed aloud in my mind.
struggle for survival
On May 11, 2020, at 3:16 a.m., in the 31st week of pregnancy, our son Finn was born, weighing 1240 grams and measuring 39 centimeters. When the doctors delivered him, he was motionless, apathetic, and weak. From that moment on, a time began that changed our lives. Our little baby was completely covered in wires. His face was barely recognizable because of the tubes. An almost unbearable sight.
On the fourth day of his life, the doctors told me Finn had suffered a brain hemorrhage. On the fifth day, I learned he also had a heart defect. My world collapsed, and terrible thoughts raced through my mind. "Lord, why my child, why does this happen to us?"
The brain hemorrhage caused hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. The cerebrospinal fluid couldn't drain on its own and accumulated in the brain. His head grew increasingly larger. He experienced vomiting and drooping of his eyes. On his 19th day of life, Finn underwent surgery to have a small catheter system inserted into his brain, through which cerebrospinal fluid was drained.
Carried on prayer hands
During this time, many brothers and sisters prayed for us and our needs. On the day of the operation, I received a message from a sister that a prophecy had been made in our prayer circle regarding our situation: “The Lord is near, help is coming!” Tears welled up in my eyes, and I knew my child was in God’s hands. And indeed—the operation went well! Praise be to the Lord!
The daily catheter punctures were very risky. Every day I visited our son for a few hours in the intensive care unit and was able to witness how the Lord protected him.
An instructive time
After about a month, the doctors decided to insert a shunt, through which the cerebrospinal fluid could drain on its own. This time was not easy for me. Due to the Corona pandemic, I had to handle all the pre-operative consultations alone. But the Lord saw my tears and was always by my side. He carried me through this time. I prayed to the Lord: “Lord, not as I will, but as you will. Your will be done!”
During my time in the intensive care unit, I saw and experienced a great deal. I saw desperate parents whose children fought for their lives every day. I constantly heard alarms because their blood oxygen saturation was dropping. I saw parents seeking help from psychologists and premature babies who, after prolonged suffering, ultimately didn't make it.
When I asked if my son's illness constituted a disability, a senior neurosurgeon said that his condition would inevitably leave its mark on him. Those were harsh words, but I knew: God has the final say. A psychologist also offered me her help. She asked me how I was coping with the situation. That's when I was given the opportunity to bear witness to God, to tell him that I couldn't manage without His strength.
During this time, I learned to be grateful. Grateful for our son's illness. Previously, this illness was a death sentence, and I realized that many people's fates were worse than ours.
Finally at home
After 76 days, we finally brought our son home. But it wasn't an easy adjustment, because Finn needed medication and had to be fed through a tube. We had to go to the hospital regularly for checkups because his head was still growing. After his third operation, everything seemed to be going well; he was developing nicely and was a happy and lively boy.
However, regular checkups revealed that the fluid buildup in his brain was causing his ventricles to enlarge, and our son needed a fourth operation. This operation carried many risks, and we were very worried. But the Lord blessed this operation as well.
Today Finn is two years old, developing well, and is a blessing in our home. The doctors and physiotherapists believe Finn has been lucky. But we know it wasn't luck. It was entirely God's grace toward our child. To the Lord be the glory.
New waiting
We were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our seventh child. Naturally, I was very worried about the time ahead. But I remembered that I have a living God who can move mountains. I prayed and entrusted everything to the Lord.
However, things turned out differently than expected. On January 20, 2022, I felt myself having contractions during the morning. When things didn't improve, my husband took me to the hospital. Although the examinations showed that the baby was fine, the contractions didn't subside despite all measures taken. The birth of our baby could not be prevented.
Our son Sam was born extremely prematurely in the 25th week of pregnancy, weighing just 985 grams. He was so tiny, yet perfect. We saw him as he was: a miracle, a gift from heaven.
Even in the intensive care unit, the Lord watches over the smallest patients.
Challenged again
Since I had tested positive for COVID-19, I wasn't allowed to see my child. Alone and isolated from the outside world, I lay in the hospital room, weeping bitterly. "Lord, why?" I had prayed and trusted in God. Many thoughts raced through my mind. Would it be another brain hemorrhage? I wouldn't be able to bear that. But during this time, I also received many messages and words of encouragement from fellow believers in the church. I knew that people were praying for me. What a privilege! A senior physician visited me and said that my son was doing well. That reassured me greatly.
On the first day, my son only needed a breathing mask. But on the second day of his life, he had to be intubated with a tube in his trachea. Intubation carries long-term health risks. I was able to watch Sam around the clock via webcam. The sight was very painful. He lay there, hooked up to all the wires. How good he would have been in the womb, but now he had to fight alone. Alone? No, my son wasn't alone. The Lord was with him. During this time, I received a short but powerful prophecy that greatly encouraged me: "I will carry this child through this!"
God is at work
On the fifth day, I was finally allowed to see my child. I went to the intensive care unit with mixed feelings. I knew full well that a long, uncertain time lay ahead of me.
After four days of intubation, our son was able to breathe without any problems using only a breathing mask. Every day I was amazed by God's wonderful guidance and how well our son was breathing despite his immature lungs. While so much suffering was happening around me, and so many parents were weeping for their children, I received good and joyful news every day at the hospital. Isn't that the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Sam's vital signs were very good. He was able to maintain his body temperature very well, and the temperature in the incubator could be lowered. After seven weeks, Sam was discharged from the intensive care unit and continued his care on the regular pediatric ward.
Sam and Finn were both born prematurely.
A God of Miracles
About three weeks before his due date, we were finally able to bring our son home after almost 11 weeks in the hospital. Today he is a perfectly healthy boy without any limitations. My heart leaps with joy whenever I look at him.
With this testimony, I want to give glory to the Lord. We have a great and living God who performs miracles! Praise be to the Lord.
Testimony from Julia Kleinschmidt from the municipality of Irslingen/Neukirch