SIX YEAR WAIT OVER

I got married in June, 2001, hoping to get pregnant immediately because I and my husband got married in our early 30's.

In January, 2002, I got pregnant but the devil tried its tricks and I lost the pregnancy. I was sleeping when I felt a sharp short pain in my right ear and the second day I felt objects moving all around my tummy that was the ovulation period and the time of menses.

BABY EMMANUEL

Most often I felt being pregnant, but whenever the moving objects started that was it, I would see my menses. I got pregnant again in July, it was terrible pain throughout and the Doctor told me I had fibroid which I was never diagnosed before, in October, I lost the pregnancy and the fibroid was removed in 2003 March. Since that time I have not been able to get pregnant again. I prayed, fasted to no avail.

In 2006, I had to sell my property in London and came back to Nigeria to seek more spiritual advice and prayer. By God's divine direction I met our Mummy in the Lord [Mummy Onaolapo] who counseled me and by Holy Spirit direction and inspiration, mummy told me to for prayer and also that she would anoint me for three days service. I also attended the Night vigil which mummy did for all of us praying for the fruit of the womb. Indeed it was a glorious night. Every Tuesday I also come for the deliverance programme where I would be ministered to, prayed for and counseled.Mummy always called me and prayed for me whenever she had the urge to.To God be the glory, I got pregnant in August, had my baby in May 2007. He is named Emmanuel.

Sis. Kemi S.

TESTIMONIES FROM ABUNDANT LIFE CHURCH

We got married in 2005, and like every newly weds trusted God for the fruit of the womb. In the first year of our marriage, we had a challenge retaining the conception. But when we got to Abundant Life Church in August, 2006, within three months God sent his word thus, The Man of God and we held on to it. As we trusted God and held on to his word, he gave us conception.

After about 6 weeks into the pregnancy, I was bleeding seriously and I went for a scan, the doctor said the pregnancy was not viable. He advised that I should do evacuation, but we left the hospital, not believing what we just heard, we went straight to the church and the Bishop and

Rev [Mrs.] prayed for me.

To the glory of God, the pregnancy that was initially pronounced “Not viable” became viable when I went back for another scan. And it matured till the full term and God gave us victory at delivery. I had my baby 3 rd July 2007.
Praise God for his wonderful gift unto us.
Sis. Osas .A

JOYFUL MOTHER AT LAST, AFTER 23 YEARS OF BARRENNESS

When I got married to my husband, we were living happily without problems. I never knew that however joyful life may be, it must have its tempting hours. My husband loved me so much and he cared for me as the bone of his bone and the flesh of his flesh. Great love was between us; we hardly had problems, but when three years into our marriage, I still hadn’t conceived, tongues started wagging. People started spreading false rumours. The members of my husband’s family gathered against me for not bearing a child. My mother-in-law became very angry and mad with me. She did not want to set her eyes on me. She called me all sorts of names like ‘good for nothing woman.’

My husband and I started visiting hospitals, going from one hospital to another for solution. At the first hospital we visited after several tests were carried out, the doctor diagnosed damage in my womb. He said that the damage had resulted in infertility. My husband couldn’t believe what he heard; he became angry with the doctor. We left the hospital for another one.

From that time, we went from one hospital to the other, from house of prayer to house of prayer, yet there was no solution. My husband’s relations made me an object of laughter and mockery. I could not talk in my husband’s house. I was treated like a house help. I was regarded as a stranger. The sense of belonging was not there. I was always in a sorrowful spirit. When others were sleeping, enjoying their sleep, I wet my pillow with uncontrollable tears. I was crying because of my affliction. Whenever you see a woman looking desperately for the fruit of the womb, pity her.

I kept thinking everyday. My husband’s family advised him to marry another woman. He refused, because he loved me so much. He and I kept on visiting hospitals, taking various types of treatment, all to no avail. I felt very worried, asking why I should be in this problem and how long this difficult time would last. We went to hospitals in other states. We went to Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, just to name a few. Without hesitation, we went to these hospitals, but all our efforts failed. Doctors were still saying the same thing, singing the same old song. In the process of searching for solution, my husband lost his job for absenting himself from office. This simply compounded our problems.

Things became so hard and very tough. I didn’t know what came upon my marriage. Every minute, my face was bathed in tears, but weeping did not solve my problem.
Later, we went to a renowned hospital in Lagos. The gynaecologist there out of pity asked us to go for child adoption. I supported this advice but my loving husband refused to give his consent. God is an instructor and the word of God is a channel of instruction. In the Bible, God instructed husbands to love their wives. My husband acted in obedience to God’s command but his people saw God’s instruction as foolishness, not knowing that the foolishness of God is wiser than men.

I went to various places with my husband. I don’t want to mention some of the places I went to with my sympathizing friends. My good friends took me to so many herbal homes and native doctors, giving me the assurance that I would conceive. In all these places, I did not get any solution. To me, it seemed my problem could not be solved. I didn’t know God was working out an answer to my problem. It was a trial and a traumatic experience. I do not wish this experience on any child of God.

In all this, my husband was patient and compassionate. He knew that our suffering was not God’s will. His sisters who had initially supported our union, turned fully against me. They said that I held my husband with charms, that I used magical sentences to talk to my husband, preventing him from seeing other women.

All sorts of rumours were going round. It was rumoured that I did not have a womb. My eyes poured out tears unto God. I was always in the bitterness of sorrow. I didn’t know that I was under a curse. My stepmother had put a curse on me that I would not conceive all the days of my life. This is a woman that I loved so much. Anything that I gave to my mother, I gave her also, not knowing that she was the one responsible for all that I was passing through. Her reason for cursing me was that I married before her daughter. By the time I discovered why we had this problem, we had been married for 18 years.

One day my mother-in-law came and ordered me out of the house. My husband came out with me. She was furious. Suddenly, she brought out a knife and threatened to stab herself if I did not leave her son’s house. She held the knife firmly to herself. Her eyes were red. I was frightened, when I knew she really meant to stab herself. His mother was angry with him for taking the foolish decision of not getting married to another woman. I wept and wept, begging her on my knees, but she turned a deaf ear, insisting that I should go to my parent’s house, that all she needed was a grand child. I cried my eyes out with a broken heart. When we saw that she was not listening to our pleas, my husband pleaded with me to take some of my things and go to my parent’s house to stay for some time.

A lot of people condemned her actions. After thinking for a while, not knowing what fate had in store for me, I obeyed my husband. I packed and went to the village. My husband promised to visit me. I stayed with my mother as my father is late. If my father were alive, with all the distress, he wouldn’t have allowed me to go back to my husband.

My family members frowned at their actions and ill treatment. I stayed with my mother for two years. During my stay in the village, my husband visited as he promised. Later, he took me back home. By the time I got back to the city, I had already built my hope in Christ Jesus. I decided not to go anywhere again in search of a solution. I prayed without ceasing, asking God to intervene in my case. When I returned, the fight was fierce but God said I should not fear. I looked to Christ, the author and finisher of my faith.

My husband’s family came up with the issue of a new wife since he refused to adopt a child. I supported them for peace to reign in the family. My house was in chaos. There was nothing else I could do than to welcome the idea since to them that was the best solution. The date of the traditional marriage for the new wife was fixed.

One fateful Wednesday morning, I woke up with a fever and loss of appetite. It was four months to the date fixed for the traditional marriage engagement. My husband in his usual loving and caring manner suggested that we go to the hospital, attributing it to be symptoms of malaria. We went to a nearby hospital for malaria test. The result was negative. The doctor advised me to do a pregnancy test. We were reluctant to do it. At last, it was done. When the result of the pregnancy test came out, we saw smiles on the doctor’s face. He congratulated us and said: “the result of the test showed positive.” We could not believe his report. I collapsed, but the doctor revived me. I saw tears of joy flowing from my husband’s eyes.
My husband quickly informed his family on this latest development. The news circulated round the whole village. God in the multitude of his mercy and his great power cancelled the slated marriage plans for a new wife by compensating me adequately at the right time. Nine months later, I was delivered of a bouncing baby girl. I became a wonder to many people. They did not have the understanding that when things look impossible, that is when God works, and when things go wrong, He, Jehovah, will make it right.

Today, I am the proud mother of two boys and a girl. This shows that prayer is powerful and God answers prayers. God is a barrenness bulldozer. Jehovah in his infinite mercy delivered me from the embargo that hindered me for 23 horrible years. He also lifted my husband from grace to grace; he now doing very well in business.

That same God who is able to do abundantly above all that we ask would do it for you – no matter how long it has taken. Though it tarries, it must surely come to pass. The God who does what no man can do, the Lord who appreciates your problems, who in not unaware of it, will do it for you. He will visit your ugly situation and put joy in your heart. Stop weeping, stop crying, stop complaining about your condition; don’t do it yourself, take it to the Lord in prayer. Don’t care about what people are saying about you. God is a winner, you must win every battle. To the barren, God says, sing; to you who have not borne, the Lord says you should break forth into singing. Sing aloud, you who have not laboured with child. When the hand of God touches your womb, you will not remember the shame of barrenness and childlessness. Let this testimony minister grace and peace to you.

MY MIRACLE BABIES

http://www.prayerbabies.blogspot.com

CLICK ON http://www.ivfnigeria.blogspot.com/ for more info on ivf

Tokunbo Egeregor:
“I got married in February 1998. Like every young couple as much as we enjoyed having ourselves to each other, we looked forward to the kids coming at God’s own time. God’s own time was supposed to be like six months or a year later. The year stretched on to two, then three, then to….Wait a minute what’s up? With us or with God?

About 5 years before I got married I had undergone Fibroid surgery. My fatherly doctor at that time had told me then to get married or get pregnant as soon as possible. Fortunately, I had just become born again and I was determined not to backslide. I decided to trust God to provide the husband when His time was right. However that did not happen till six years after the surgery.

Six months into the marriage, I started seeing doctors. My husband reluctantly went with me and we ran all the tests and were put on various medications. From that point on it was from one doctor to another. Once I spent 6 months with a doctor and there is no result, I would move on to another. Today it’s “oh you have fibroids,” tomorrow it’s “oh, low sperm count,” then, “oh you have adhesions,” “oh its hormonal imbalance, your prolactin level is high.” I was put on all sorts of pills. At times the doctor would suspend my period for months.

From regular fertility treatment with antibiotics and clomid, I graduated to injectables. From that to artificial insemination, (about 10 cycles), then onto IVF (about 3 cycles) then finally to ICSI(about 3-4cycles). After all this, I finally told my husband that I had had enough. My life revolved around my menstrual cycle and doctors. My business was suffering and I had no social life.

After the second IVF, a renowned fertility doctor from King’s Hospital, England was asked to review my case. After a scan and the review of my case note, he said, “I think you should consider surrogacy. You have healthy eggs, you get good embryos but your uterus cannot sustain a pregnancy. You have large multiples Myoma (fibroids). So the best thing to do is to get someone to carry the pregnancy for you.” The level of devastation and pain can only be imagined. At 33 plus, doctors had given up on me. I wasn’t ready to give up then, so I went off to South Africa to see yet another specialist. The verdict: Laser Surgery to remove the fibroids. I decided to proceed with the surgery.

After the surgery I was shocked when I was told the laser couldn’t take out the fibroids as they were embedded unto my uterine walls. It was as if all hope had now gone. My husband and I encouraged ourselves and decided to use the opportunity to enjoy our stay in Cape Town. On arrival in Nigeria I booked in for another ICSI/IVF which also failed.

While all these was going on, I continued in prayers, fasting and sacrificial giving on different levels. I made various pledges, church seats, pillars for our new church building, motherless babies and so on. I sowed into the lives of people and children in the hope that my harvest would finally come. Several times all on my own I would conduct a communion service taking bread and wine. I did all that I knew to do in faith. Looking back now, I know that none of the things I did was in vain. I learnt some important lessons along the way. I learnt that you cannot move faster than God. God will move in His own time to make all things beautiful. He will turn your captivity around and give you 7 fold restoration. That is what He did for me.

In February 2003, I decided to go for another fibroid surgery as it appeared the pregnancy could not take with those fibroids in my womb. I could not believe it when after surgery, I was told again that the fibroids could not be removed as all my internal organs and the fibroids had fused together. The doctor (in Abuja) in fact took a video of the operation and asked me to show it to doctors anywhere in the world. He was certain that removing the massive fibroids would be at great risk to my life. My husband now asked what chance we had of conceiving if we were to try one more IVF cycle. The doctor said that considering the state of my womb, only 5%.

My husband declared that he was willing to give that 5% chance to God and see what He would do. God honoured his faith and I finally got pregnant in March 2003 and my joy knew no bounds when we were told it was TWINS! Even all through the pregnancy the attacks continued. I had a threatened miscarriage at 12weeks and I lost so much blood that I felt it was over. I couldn’t even pray any more. Thank God for my husband, who stood in the gap for me. I remember calling my Pastor crying and he said he wanted to talk to my husband. He told my husband that he needed to fall on his face before God pleading for mercy. He obeyed and God honoured us. At the time of my delivery, the doctors on scanning me marveled that I could ever have carried two babies in my womb with the massive fibroids. At a point, one of my babies stopped growing and I had to be delivered at 32 weeks to save his life. He was 1.05kg at birth and the other boy was 1.9kg. To God be the Glory, today at 18 months old they look like 3 year olds. Very handsome, very intelligent.

My sisters, I went through so much physically, spiritually and emotionally but I refused to give up. Never give up. It’s never too late with God. He truly makes the barren woman to keep home. Praise the Lord!”

Source: 'God's Waiting Room' By Yewande Zachaeus

*You may choose different ways to overcome infertility, as long as they are not fetish or contrary to God’s word. CLICK ON: http://www.ivfnigeria.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.naturalfertilityaids.blogspot.com/ for further information.

AFTER 11 YEARS BREAK IN TRANSMISSION, WOMAN DELIVERS TWINS

RIGHT: THE ABIAKAM FAMILY WITH TWIN BABIES

For the family of Mr. Chidike and Mrs. Gloria Abiakam, June 24 2004 shall forever remain a date for sweet memories. It was the day the miracle of the Lord became manifest in their lives as Mrs. Abiakam gave birth to two bouncing babies – boy and girl after 11 years “break in
transmission.”

Mrs Abiakam, a native of Amaigbo in Nwangele LGA told how she had been betrothed to her heartthrob Chidike Abiakam at a very early age.
“My husband took me as a wife in 1987 and by 1988 we had our first baby. Two others followed in 1990 and 1992 before I started having difficulty in conceiving.”

Not deterred by the early t ime out, Mrs Abiakam said she put her whole trust in God since she had no medical problem and the husband was very okay.

Tension over a male child
That never disturbed me because my husband never for once showed signs of a worried person. In fact, it was from my husband that I started doubting stories I heard about turbulence in marriages because of the sex of a child. He never for one day worried or gave me cause to worry. I was even the person who worried initially but drawing courage from him, I now took solace in God and my whole trust was in Him.”

The birth of the twins
“When I finally took in eleven years after my last pregnancy, I thanked God for hislove and mercies upon my marriage. I felt with their birth, God in his wisdom and love decided to make me a testimony point and further strengthen my faith.”

She also narrated how the twin babies were delivered with the girl coming out first “and the doctors and nurses around who knew me and my desire for a male child were all giving words of encouragement until the second baby was noticed and it was a baby boy. The entire labour room went wild with jubilation, that God had answered my prayers.”

The testimonies of the Abiakams are eloquent as are indicated in the names given to the twins. The girl is AMBLESSED CHINYERE KELECHI while the boy is MIRACLE SAMUEL KAMISIYOCHUKWU.

FOR NOT BEARING A CHILD AFTER 17 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, A SMALL BOY TOLD HER SHE WAS AN ECONOMIC WASTE, AMONG OTHER INSULTS

For not bearing a child after 17 years of marriage, a small boy told her she was an economic waste, among other insults

Since marriages are crumbling because of childlessness, then one could imagine the tension that enveloped the family of Rev. and Mrs. Imo Samuel Nyah, a pastor in the Assemblies of God Church, currently at Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, for 17 years without a child: the family literally came to the precipice, but survived.

Today, that tension and apprehension has paled into oblivion since the arrival of their son more than a year ago.

Mrs. Precious Nyah
In the beginning

My name is Mrs. Precious Nyah. I come from Itu Mbon Uso in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. I had my primary education there and after that I attended Dorcas Commercial Secondary School in Calabar where I met my husband and got married in 1986. we met in the same church- Assemblies of God in Calabar. Later he answered the call into the ministry and the wedding took place on August 13, 1988.

Expectation
Like every other woman, I expected a child after the wedding. Though it was not easy, we kept on praying, believing God that I would take in soon. Initially, I used to have miscarriages, but after eight years, the thing stopped. We consulted doctors. One of them even said I had fibroids; and encouraged me to go for an operation, but I rejected his advice because I was afraid, more so, I thought it might not be successful. Believed that God would perform his miracle even with the fibroids in me.

Apart from the fibroid problem, there was also a time I went to the hospital for check-up and the doctor advised me to wash my womb. He said I should check my tubes whether they were in order. I did that.

I expected them to tell me that there was a problem with my womb or so. After washing my womb, they confirmed that my womb and tubes were okay, but after all that I never took in and when I asked them, they couldn’t tell me the exact problem.

In-laws and parents’ reaction
My parents were worried. My father, in particular, encouraged us to find some other options apart from prayer since we had prayed and nothing happened. He asked us if we would like to consult a native doctor and that he would give his clothe for us to go with it to find out if he was the cause. So, they really wanted a solution to the problem. When they said all this, I told them that, I believe in God and I knew that God would do it at the right time.

Regarding my in-laws, I knew they said all kinds of things. I remember when they asked my husband if he wanted to be like Abraham. They advised him to take another wife. They said if he didn’t want to bring the second wife to his station, he should keep her in his house or in the village so that he could have children through her. They reminded him of his younger brother who had three or four children, but I didn’t bother about all those things because I believed in God.

Harassment
Some people were sometimes even bold enough to accost me openly. I remember one person asked me whether I aborted some babies when I was single. She said that could be the cause of my problem. I told her that I never did such a thing and that inability to take in was not because of that.

A boy’s insult
I can also remember another case. I visited one family and there was a boy whose mother was a member of our church. When I greeted the young boy, his response was shocking. He said, look at you; don’t greet me. Don’t you know that you are a waste? The food you eat is a waste. Since you cannot have a child of your own, the food you eat is a waste.’
I felt so bad and cried within me. When I got home, I shared this with my husband. He comforted me, saying there was nothing we could do. I advised that I either slept with him or another man who would make me pregnant so that I could have a child. I felt so offended and lambasted him. I later told my husband.

Lowest moment
Though I cannot mention the exact period, there was a time I felt so bad and told my husband that there was no need punishing him. We had stayed all these years without a child and people were saying all kinds of things. Moreover, every month when I had my period, I would be weighed down and would say that there was no need for me to stay. I remember that I packed my things and went about from house to house. I was just roaming up and down but my husband called me and asked where I was going. I said I didn’t know, anywhere I liked.

Husband’s attitude
His attitude towards me was encouraging. Each time I was down; each time I began to think, my husband would encourage me. He told me he was not bothered about the problem. He would ask me whether he had ever challenged me because of my inability to take in. he would assure me of his love. He would tell me not to worry about what people said. In fact, he really helped me. If he did not support me, anybe, things would have turned out differently, but with him on my side, I was encouraged. Some other genuine friends also supported us.

Conception
After my graduation from the Bible school in November 2003, I came back not feeling fine throughout December. I thought it was stress and malaria. I took some drugs, but I was still uncomfortable. So, I consulted a nurse and she advised me to go for pregnancy test. I was not happy with her but she insisted I should do it. And my husband supported that I should go for the test. He even took the sample to the hospital and the result was positive. I asked what was positive; he said pregnancy. It was as if he was not serious about it and personally such stuff was not on my mind so, I told him it was not true. I said okay, let some months pass. I was advised to go and register at Ikot Abasi General Hospital. It was there that they confirmed the pregnancy. In fact, it was like a dream.

Peoples reaction.
When people saw the pregnancy, they praised God. Some came from far places to confirm if it was true. When they saw me, they were overjoyed. Even those who abused me earlier were happy. I remember during the child dedication on November 14, 2004, many people came and the church could not contain people.

Advice
My advice to women going through similar experience is that they should keep on believing God. God has said in His word that none of His children shall be barren and that word is sure. I believe that scripture despite what people say. They should have faith.

Child’s name
As would be expected, the child’s name is Samuel. Not necessarily as a namesake of his grandfather who also answered Samuel, but principally because the mother, Mrs. Precious Imoh Samuel Nyah says: “I like First Samuel, chapter one that talks about Hannah, the husband and their son Samuel. So, that place was always a great inspiration to me. I don’t know the exact length of time that she stayed but it came to a time that she was provoked and she went to God in prayer and right there, God answered her prayers through the man of God, Eli and she got her miracle.”