When I found out I was pregnant at 17 years old, I was scared to death.  I had no idea what I was going to do with a new baby. I can look back now and see that kids at that age do not see the realness in this situation. It was scary but also held a hidden excitement. When you are that age not everyone is excited. Though I can say it was not the same kind of excitement you feel when you find out when you are pregnant and your married. It was a mixed feeling excitement.

[Though I do not promote teen pregnancy, I also do not promote abortion]

I had many complications in this pregnancy, I bled a lot and went to the doctors weekly. When I was pregnant in 1990 the ultrasound machines were not the best at all. I was lucky to see what was in my stomach. Much less anything else.

I later found out my uterus had a rip and that the lining was separating. The doctor kept trying to insist that I get an abortion. I did not agree. My baby was kicking me and my doctor, who is suppose to help me, is telling me to kill my baby. This was almost a weekly event, right up to the time the baby was born.

I was 7 months pregnant ,(32 weeks gestation), when  I started having major cramps. I never gone through labor so I did not know what to look for . I had these for 2 days. Finally I went to the bathroom and almost dropped to the floor when I went to stand. I yelled for my mom to help me. She told me I was in labor and we needed to get to the hospital right away. Problem was we were in Montana in the middle of December, it was 70 below zero outside and snow was deep. Our car would not start and by the time the ambulance came we would both be surely dead. (baby and me).

Our neighbor was at church and I am sure my mom was ready to freak. All of a sudden our neighbor pulls up into his driveway. My mom and her fiancée met the neighbor outside and told him what was happening. They got me into the vehicle and drove me to the hospital. Mom later told me our neighbor was speeding and cops followed I am not sure if we got pulled over or if they just chased us to the hospital??

NOTE: Later mom told me that our neighbor was in church and that he felt like God was telling him to come home. He told mom that he has never felt that or had that happen much less leave church early. But he felt a strong "GO HOME ,GO HOME". And went right home to see that we needed him.

I was taken to the emergency room and my doctor showed up to examine me and saw I was in labor. He was upset at me for not going in sooner. He was upset at me for not going in sooner and almost yelled at me. He asked, "Why didn't you come in earlier and see me in my clinic?". We told him I had been in to see him the day before. He just shut up because he realized he was at fault for not sending me in to have the baby.,as I had told him of my pain.

(there was more but its not worth mentioning)

My baby was resting on my pelvic bone and was breech.

He called for help and I was sent for an emergency caesarian. I was prepped and then they cut me open and it hurt more then any pain I have ever experienced. I did not tell the doctor because it was my first experience and I just didn’t know. I thought I was going to pass out. I do not remember much after my baby boy was born except the warm blanket they wrapped me in. It seems like I fell asleep and slept forever.

I was not allowed to see my baby. Back then your baby was taken to a separate nursery ,(even the healthy newborns).

[NOTE: They did not have women walk or get out of bed right away after surgery.They did not know the importance of this and recovery, so I was in horrible pain. You were not allowed to eat or drink for the first 24 hours. I was thirsty and snuck water through a bathroom rag. I found later my shakes were because I am hyperglycemic.] My blood pressure shot up and I started getting sick. I was allergic to the drugs they were giving me. I ended up only getting pictures of Justen until I was allowed up. [Named Justen because he was born Just in Time. I found out later he only had a 10% chance of survival. Ten more minutes and he would have been stillborn. ”He was my first miracle baby“]

I finally was helped up to see him and was only allowed to hold him for a few minutes. I found out that he was only 3 pounds 10 ounces .

I tried nursing him and he latched on fine. But I could not get to the hospital with the weather often enough to nurse him so he ended being bottle fed.

Justen went home in January some time. He is now 13 [2004] as I write this. He was behind on motor skills and it took him several years to catch up to his age.  He is now an honor roll student. He is healthy and doing perfectly fine.                                             

[Note: I found out later that I had tons of Prayer warriors at the hospital that night., including the police.