Mixed Blessings ‘God turned our mourning into dancing’

Dovis and Jockline Saeta lost their baby girl, Beverly on the 26th of March last year. And this year, on the exact date and time that they last saw Beverly alive, Jackline delivered a baby boy, Bevan. The couple share their blessings with Pregnant’s Editor.

Jackline: When I learnt that I was expectant once again. I longed to have a girl to fill in for Beverly’s loss. That had my gynaecologist hesitate to disclose the news when he discovered that I was carrying a baby boy.

Davis: When Jackline had her EDD as the 24th of March. I had two wishes: one. to have the baby a day before, which is my birth date, and secondly, to have the baby delivered on the 26th. the date when Beverly passed away. Well, as the 23rd date approached. I noticed that my wife was cheerless and downcast. I started praying that our baby be born on the 26th to cast away the dark happening.

Jackline: I went to work on the 23rd of March. That was Davis’ birthday and also the day preceding my EDD. I thought of Beverly, my little girl who was no more, and I cried. I cried the whole day and night and I started hoping that labour would not come on the 24th. which was the following day because I would be unable to push. Come d-day and I did not feel any signs of labour. I called my gynaecologist to check-up what the problem could be and he asked me to be patient for another week, after which I would report the progress to him. I took time off from work and chose to relax at home instead. All the same I arranged the baby’s bed and checked my hospital bag just to ensure I had left nothing out when I packed it two weeks earlier.

The following day I asked Davis to check for names that would be similar to Beverly’s. On that night. I felt the baby kick me very strongly just as my husband said that he thought Bevan would come on the same day that Beverly passed away. That night I was unable to deep as fast as the other days because of the baby’s kicks. I remembered our friends who had told us that when the baby is about to be born the kicks reduce.

But my unborn baby’s kicks were becoming vicious and I believed the doctor’s words even more—that another week would pass. At lam in the night, I had an urge to go to the washrooms, but nothing came out when I did. I did not wake up my hubby. At three, the same urge came and this time. I asked him to wake up since I was now not feeling well.

I did not think I was in labour though. I had no back pain like when I was about to deliver Beverly, yet I had slight abdominal pains and contractions. He advised me to call the doctor and explain the same, which I did. My gynaecologist advised me to report to hospital immediately.

Davis held my hand because my leg numbed a bit on our way to the hospital. A nurse met us and rushed me to the maternity ward. I was 7cm dilated! That startled me and at the same time pleased me because when I was delivering Beverly, it took me almost half a day to reach the same degree of dilation. I was taken to the labour ward and as we waited for the doctor we chatted with my husband who was patient enough to soothe me. each time a labour contraction came.

At one point, the nurse came in to check the baby’s heartbeat and immediately my mind went back to Beverly. ‘Is the baby alright?’ I worriedly inquired from the nurse, who replied in the affirmative. Being transferred to the delivery room was a struggle. The pain I felt made me shed tears and cry out loud but I bore it all for my baby. My gynaecologist instructed me to be quiet as I would need that energy to push the baby. I promised to cooperate and then went silent.

Davis: We had agreed with Jackie that I would not get into the delivery room. I would stand by the door and wait until I heard the baby’s cry. But as I stood at the door she suddenly went silent and that scared me. Luckily, a nurse was walking out of the room and upon seeing the look on my face,realised that I needed to be in the delivery room.

She urged me to go in. That was all the encouragement I needed and I went straight and held Jackie’s hand. I was fortunate to catch a glimpse of my son just as he was about to be born and that was done as I took the timing of his delivery. It was exactly 7.22am: The time we had given Beverly in for the operation. For a moment, my mind went back to the dot on time and date last year. I remembered how we had hoped our daughter would come out healthier from the operation table: and how we never got to go home with her.

Jackline: Immediately I heard the baby’s cry. I sat up forgetting the extreme labour pains and tear that I had gone through a second earlier. Could it be true that Bevan had come exactly at the time that we gave Beverly to the theatre staff? It was a perfect miracle! The timing was so exact. To be completely sure that Bevan was healthy, we had him checked by a cardiologist who is also a paediatrician. When she gave him a clean bill of health, we relaxed and said a prayer immediately.

Davis and Jackline: We certainly plan to have one or more children the future. But most of all we are thankful that instead of having a memorial to mourn the passing away of our daughter, we have a birthday to celebrate. God has certainly turned our mourning into dancing.

END: PG22/26-27