The day of miracles has not ceased, but they may look different than we expect! Christie Sundberg Hailes shares how the Lord changed her family's heart and strengthened them through the knowledge that families can be together forever.
"In 2014, Brian and I had the opportunity to bring conjoined twins, Ian and Aiden, into the world. Although they only lived on this earth for a short time, they brought with them a deep love, and made a lasting impression on many. Little did we know at the time, but the pregnancy would significantly change our family’s outlook on life and would become one of the most spiritual experiences we've had.
"We found out our boys were conjoined when I was 10 weeks along. With all the stigma, statistics and unknowns that accompany the birth of conjoined twins, that moment became our lowest point, and we didn’t know what we were going to do or how we were going to handle it. On one particularly difficult night, I couldn’t sleep, so I stayed up and prayed for a miracle. I didn’t know what that could be, but I knew I was in desperate need of one . . . and I fell asleep crying.
"The next morning, the miracle came, for both of us. The situation of our sweet boys remained the same as they continued to grow and develop with two beating hearts connected by a shared heart wall and other shared organs. The miracle was simply a change in our mindset. All the prayers and fasting of family, neighbors and friends altered our outlook on the whole situation. We suddenly felt at peace with whatever the Lord had in store for us, and we knew things would work out for the best. We could feel our Savior near.
"We went in for ultrasounds every 2 weeks and watched our boys overcome many physical and life-threatening obstacles. Their diaphragm never developed, so their organs crowded up into their chest cavity restricting the growth of their lungs. At that point, it became clear they would ultimately not survive. The doctors thought it best to deliver via C-section at 26 weeks, expecting the boys to live for only a short time.
"We were blessed to be able to spend 80 precious minutes with our angels before they returned to their heavenly home. The veil was thin in the hospital room that day, and angels surrounded us. We were able to give Ian and Aiden their names and blessings before their departure.
"In the beginning, we had several people, including 3 doctors, ask if we wanted to terminate the pregnancy. For Brian and I, that was never an option. They were our babies, and we'd do whatever we could for them. We feel so privileged to be their parents. Knowing that we have two celestial angels waiting for us on the other side gives us strength and comfort. Their gravestone reads: “In life they were not divided, and in death, they were not separated.” We look forward to the day when we can see them again and be reunited as an eternal family."
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