Leanna Garcia is a local artist and homeschooling mom of five. You’ll usually find her in the studio with a baby on her hip, running kids to practices or having date nights with her husband on their back porch.
MY HEALTH CHALLENGE
I was almost 39 weeks pregnant and having a “normal” labor at the hospital when everything suddenly changed. I began hemorrhaging and having severe pain, and my blood pressure dropped significantly. I remember the nurses rushing in and flipping me to my side to try to get my blood pressure back to normal when the baby’s heart rate dropped.
My doctor was there within seven minutes, and I was rushed into an emergency cesarean section. I felt myself going into shock, and all I could say was, “In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus”. It all happened so fast, and there was no time to prep me for the surgery, so I felt everything.
It was the most animalistic experience of my life. Within minutes, my baby was out, but the room was quiet. I kept asking why my baby wasn’t crying, and after what seemed like an eternity, my doctor looked at me with tears in his eyes, telling me that my baby had a heartbeat. Everything went dark after that. My baby was born with an Apgar score of 1, meaning he was in critical condition, but within hours, he was perfectly healthy and never even had to be transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit. The pediatrician told us that in his 40-plus years of experience, he never had seen a baby born so sick become so healthy so quickly.
My doctor told me that when he pulled my baby out, almost the entire placenta came out with him. I had an almost complete placenta abruption, and minutes decided life or death. I praise God that my doctor was quick to act and that my baby boy, Shepherd, is here and healthy.
MY APPROACH
When everything felt completely out of control and my son and I were brought to the brink of death, all I could lean on was my faith. It truly carried me through the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. It has been almost two months since my son was born, and every time I tell his birth story or even think about it, I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
MY TREATMENT
I experienced some post-traumatic stress in the weeks after giving birth. I was struggling to fall asleep or even be alone because every time I closed my eyes or was in a quiet place like the shower, all I could think, hear or visualize was every terrifying detail from my son’s birth and how we almost lost him. But once I talked to my doctor about it and verbalized what I was feeling, I was able to release it and have not struggled with it since.
THE HARDEST PART
This was my fifth time experiencing birth and postpartum, but this was by far my hardest recovery. Although health-wise, baby boy and I are well, the postpartum recovery has been much harder both mentally and physically than I was prepared for.
WHAT LIFE IS LIKE NOW
Two months later, we are settling into a new “normal.” I finally am feeling like myself again and able to truly be present and find joy in this postpartum season.
I have never gone through a near-death experience before this, and on the other side, I have found so much gratitude, joy and beauty around me.
MY ADVICE TO OTHERS
God can carry you through anything; he is not absent from this. Even in fear, diagnosis, waiting or pain, He is present. Surrender the outcome to Him and rest in His faithfulness.
Also, God often answers prayers through people. Community is a part of His design for carrying burdens. Let people love on you, pour into you and help you. Community is healing to the heart.
