AWM News - Home - The Desire to Have a Family

Marion and Arno's long awaited baby can be seen here in this 4D Ultrsound at 24.5 weeks. (Click to enlarge)Marion and Arno, two young professionals, were united in marriage in the mid nineteen nineties when they were in their twenties. After enjoying each other's company for three years, the couple decided it was time to start a family. The ease of making that decision was where the simplicity ended for the couple. While God's design for multiplication is straightforward, Marion and Arno had anything but an easy time as they set out to start their family. After more than a decade of trying to get pregnant, Marion had reached a place of hopelessness and desperation?it was in that place that she turned to God.

Less than one year after the couple began trying to have a baby, Marion was diagnosed with Endometriosis, an often painful female health disorder that can lead to infertility. After the diagnosis, they sought medical assistance to increase Marion's chances for getting pregnant. "We tried three Intra Uterine Inseminations (IUI), all of which failed. Then the doctor told us that we would probably have to try In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and we were both devastated," remembered Marion.

Arno and Marion sit enjoying the celebration of their first baby shower. (Click to enlarge)Initially, Marion and Arno refused the suggestion of IVF and decided to continue to try to conceive naturally. Unsuccessful in their attempts for the next year, they prepared themselves to try IVF. The doctor however, insisted that they attempt another IUI first. They happily accepted the opportunity, but the procedure failed to get Marion pregnant.

A short time later, Marion's job in the world of banking and finance became very stressful, and fertility treatments took a backseat to career issues and job transfers. Still determined to have a family, Marion and Arno continued to try to conceive naturally.

Eventually things became too stressful for the couple in the city and they decided to relocate to the countryside. Marion was able to receive a job transfer at work, and they decided to buy a farm. After a second transfer, Marion found the ideal position in a job she loved with very little stress. Under these new circumstances, she thought she would definitely get pregnant?she didn't.

Arno embraces Marion and their newborn son, Gian Lucca.
(Click to enlarge)In 2007, eight years had passed since Marion and Arno had started trying to conceive, and Marion could hear her biological clock ticking, loudly. They decided they could no longer wait to get pregnant naturally. Marion quit her job, they sold their farm, and they moved forward with the In Vitro Fertilization process. For the first time, Marion was totally convinced that the IVF would work, but it did not, and she was absolutely crushed.

"This was the best that the medical profession could do for us, and it still did not work. I had no hope and felt like I had no will to live anymore," said Marion. It was during this time of hopeless desperation that Marion turned to the Lord and she was born again. Marion had always believed in God and in Jesus, and that He died on the cross for her sins, but there was always something preventing her from surrendering everything to God. For the next year and a half, she put her desire for a baby on hold and focused her attention on God.

Gian Lucca, which means, "Gift from God or God is Gracious" and "Bringer of Light" is a perfectly healthy baby boy.
(Click to enlarge)Still believing IVF would be the only way Marion would get pregnant, she and Arno went to a new clinic. Marion's diagnosis of Endometriosis had now worsened to include Adenomyosis and other internal complications. The doctors also concluded that Arno had reproductive issues as well, which were contributing to the pregnancy problems. When all was said and done, the new clinic assisted the couple's efforts by performing four more failed IUIs and three more IVFs. On the seventh procedure, her fourth In Vitro, Marion finally got pregnant?only to lose the pregnancy at 10 weeks to miscarriage. "Once again I was completely heartbroken, but this time I was not hopeless because I knew God. A couple of months later, I learnt that God still heals us today, and I devoured all teachings I could find on the topic.

On February 13, 2011, Marion came across Andrew's website and began to listen to his teachings. On March 6, 2011 she turned 40 and she said, "Medically speaking, my chances of having a live baby with the help of IVF were less than 5%, but I rejoiced that day, because I knew with God nothing was impossible." Marion found inspiration in the story of Sarah, who conceived at the age of 90, and she knew that if God could make Sarah pregnant, then making her pregnant at 40 was not a problem for Him.

Gian Lucca, standing at nine months old. (Click to enlarge)

Almost 2 weeks after her birthday, Marion was able to tell she had not conceived, but instead of being upset, Marion rejoiced, praising God and declaring that she would soon be pregnant. Marion had taken to heart Andrew's teachings, You've Already Got It and Don't Limit God and she was confident in her expectation. "Before I heard these teachings, I was waiting on God to move and make me pregnant, and then suddenly I heard that God was waiting on me! Jesus already made me pregnant?I just had to receive it!" she exclaimed.

On April 10, 2011, Marion took a pregnancy test?and it was positive! They had not taken any medication, they had not seen any doctors, but she was pregnant. Many people involved in their lives, prior to this date, did not believe that they had not received any medical help, but eventually they admitted that it was a miracle. Marion said, "We knew better, we knew it was not a miracle, but an incredible blessing from God."

December 26, 2011, Marion and Arno welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world, and they said he's healthy and perfect in every way. Reflecting on the length of time it took for their family to begin to multiply Marion said, "In the end it was 12 years and 3 months since we started trying to conceive that we eventually got our baby, but it took less than 2 months of listening to [Andrew's] teachings for me to get pregnant."

Source: http://news.awmi.net/home/2012/11/1/the-desire-to-have-a-family.html

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