The puzzle of Elijah

“We need you to lay on the stretcher,” the paramedic said.

“I can walk to the ambulance myself,” I answered.

“Olga, it is for your and our safety. You need to lie on the stretcher.”

I did. They wheeled me out through the halls of the hospital. I didn’t look or feel like I was sick. Someone young like me shouldn’t need to be in a stretcher. I was the center of attention and it embarrassed me.

The ride was smooth with no sirens and no flashing lights. Inside the ambulance, my blood pressure increased and the nurse worried. When we arrived at OHSU, the driver wheeled me out from the ambulance. On a stretcher, I met the faces of new doctors, nurses and patients. Again, I could not believe it was me on that stretcher. Embarrassed, I was ready to hide my face under the blanket.

The paramedics took me to the intensive care room of the delivery unit. Two nurses gave me medications, started IVs, measured my blood pressure, and took blood for several tests. Then, the cardiologist, neonatologist and medical students came to introduce themselves.

The cardiologist said, “Olga, we will try to keep you pregnant as long as possible, because it is too early for your baby to be born.”

“I know. I still have ten weeks to be pregnant. I can’t have my baby born today,” I answered, not even thinking of all the things that can really go wrong…

The nurses monitored the baby’s heartbeat. During the day, the monitor would often beep to show that the baby’s heart rate was dropping and then it would recover. I did not know a lot about Preeclampsia and did not ask many questions because the nurses were busy. They were completing doctor’s orders, trying to decide if I should eat or not. I was very hungry, but had to wait and didn’t know why. Later, I understood that they did not want me to eat before the surgery. They were not sure how soon they might have to do the C-section. I was given a shot with steroids, which was supposed to help our baby’s lungs open, in case he was born early.

In the evening, Oleg and the children came to visit me. The children told me about their first day at school and then asked, “How soon you are coming home, Mama?”

“I hope, very soon,” I said.

“Today after work it took me two hours to read all the papers that our children brought from school,” Oleg said. “I had to sign so many of them and wished you were home to do that.”

I just smiled and said, “It is good for you, honey, to see what mothers usually do, all the things which seem to be easy.”

After about an hour, Oleg and the children left for home. Tired, I fell asleep.

…….

Just before midnight, a worried nurse woke me up.

“Olga, your baby’s heart is stopping about every five minutes,” she said. “The doctors are deciding whether to do the C-section or not.”

Frightened and sleepy, I was trying to wake up and realize what was happening. Three doctors walked into my room.

“Why is my baby’s heart stopping every five minutes?” I asked, confused.

“Your high blood pressure and the protein in your urine is causing your baby’s heart to stop,” the first doctor explained. “His heart defect is not the problem. It is you, Olga, who developed not only preeclampsia, but eclampsia, the final and most severe phase. Your placenta started to secrete substances that can cause dysfunction in your blood vessels. You may start having seizures or go into a coma. It also can damage your liver and kidneys. Both you and the baby can die. Basically, your body is killing your baby.”

“Olga, with his heart defect, your baby has less than 1% chance to survive,” added the second doctor. “You have two options. One is to let the nature take its course and let your baby die. We will induce you and remove the baby from your womb without surgery. The second option is to do an emergency C-section. We would not recommend the C-section because it’s a major surgery and your baby has such a small chance to live.”

Even though the doctors had warned me, I didn’t really believe that it would come to this. Let my baby die? What is happening? Where is Oleg? I need his help and support! I thought.

“Do I have time to call my husband?” I asked.

“Yes, you do,” the doctor answered and stepped out to the hall.

I called Oleg and told him as fast as I could, “Our baby’s heart is stopping every 5 minutes. He is dying. The doctors are asking if we should let him die or do an emergency C-section on me. I need you to come to the hospital as soon as possible, please. I will call my Father and ask him to come and spend the night with our children. I will call you back.”

I quickly called my Father and asked if he could spend the night with our children. My Father said he will and promised to pray for us.

I called Oleg back to ask him what to do, but for some reason he didn’t pick up the phone. I tried again. No answer warned me.

“Where is Oleg? Why he doesn’t answer?” I sat on my hospital bed, confused. Every minute counted. I thought to myself, “How can I say, ‘I am willing to let my baby die?’” Even if he has a 1% chance to survive, I should give it to him. The doctors should do the C-section. Even if my baby does not survive, I will have a scar to remember him by. THERE IS GOD IN HEAVEN, WHO GIVES LIFE AND WHO TAKES IT AWAY. I will give my baby all his chances. I know he will live!”

The doctors came back into my room and asked again, “So, Olga, what have you decided?”

“My husband is on his way here,” I answered with a shaky voice. “Please do the C-section. I will give my baby all his chances for life. God will make that final decision about our baby’s life.”

“Are you sure, Olga? This surgery is a major procedure, which we would prefer not to do on you.”

“Yes, I am sure.”

“Would you like us to save your baby when he is born?” the doctor asked.

“What do you mean?” I asked confused.

“Would you like us to let him die or provide him with breathing help and medications for his heart?”

“I would like you to do everything possible to save his life. God will take his life, if it is time, but I will do everything possible to help our son live.”

The doctors were quiet for a minute and then left the room. They knew what I didn’t want to accept. Only later, I realized if they told me that my baby had no chance for life, I would not be asking them to save him. But because they gave him that 1%, I asked them to save him. I knew miracles happen.

After about thirty-five minutes, which seemed an eternity to me, Oleg was finally with me in the room.

“Olga, I am sorry it took me a while to get here,” he said. “The main entrance door of the hospital was locked, so, the security guard had to let me in through the back door.”

Oleg’s face was pale. Only God knows what my husband experienced.

“I have agreed to the surgery. I want to give my baby all his chances for life,” I said with tears.

“Olga, God will help us. No matter what happens, I just need you alive,” Oleg said, hugging me and trying to hold his tears.

That night I turned thirty weeks pregnant; two and a half months early for our baby to be born. The nurses transported me to the operating room, while Oleg had to stay and change into a surgery outfit. Surprisingly, I felt an unusual peace and knew God was with me during that critical time. I felt like He was gently holding me in His hands with His angels surrounding me. I was doing everything possible to give our baby his chance for life and left the final decision up to God. What more could I do?

When Oleg came into the operating room, the doctor had already made the incision cut for the C-section. Oleg told me later that he had seen blood before, but not that much of it. It made him feel sick when he paused and looked at the surgery.

“Sir, please sit down,” the nurse said.

“I am fine,” Oleg answered.