Weekly Chasidic Story #910 (s5775-33 / 15 Iyar 5775)

After Nine Miscarriages

I want to tell you about the miracle that happened to me, starting with Lag BaOmer 5764/2004, the first time I ever went to Meron on Lag b'Omer.

Connection: seasonal- Lag b'Omer is Wednesday night-Thursday, Iyar 18 (May 6-7)

After Nine Miscarriages

I [Esther Ben-Yosef] want to tell you about the miracle that happened to me. I'm originally from Holland, so my native language is Dutch. I also speak German and French. My English is not so great but I will try.

After my first-born son I suffered severe problems with pregnancies. I had 9 miscarriages and the many doctors I'd been to all gave up on me being able to give birth again. The final thing they were willing to try was an IVF treatment. I already had an appointment for it and been through the required injections that I needed for the treatment.

On Lag B'Omer 5764 (2004) we went for the first time to Meron, after a religious woman advised me to go. I prayed there with all my heart for a baby and a brother/sister for my son who was 9 years old at that time. One week after Lag B'Omer I dreamt that I give birth--the dream was so real that I felt contractions!

Three weeks after that Lag B'Omer I cancelled the treatment because I was pregnant, and nine months later Jonathan-Shimon was born. It took ten years but he was worth it!

After Jonathan Shimon was born I went to Meron again on Lag B'Omer the following year to say "Thank you," and within a month I was again pregnant. Daniel-Yisrael was born nine months later.

The pregnancies also involved miracles, specially the second one. With Jonathan Shimon there were many difficulties. In the end he was born very small, but today (5770/2010) he is a very healthy 5 year old boy, thank G-d.

When I was 8 weeks pregnant with Daniel I went for an ultrasound. The doctor told me that he had bad news: there was no heartbeat. He also showed me the bloodstains in the uterus on the screen. He said that if I will not discharge the fetus naturally within a week I should go to the Hadassah-Hospital for curettage.

Upon stepping outside I started to cry. My 12 year old son said to me, "Ima ('Mom'), don't worry, I promise you that everything will be alright. The doctor was wrong." I told him, "Honey, I know you want another brother or sister, but the doctor told me that it is really not okay." I was surprised when he replied to me firmly, "No. I feel that this time you don't need to worry."

I went a week later I followed the doctor's instructions and went to the hospital. Before the curettage they made another ultrasound. The woman technician was excited by the results. "Mazaltov!" she exclaimed. "You can go back home...I see a heartbeat!" I was amazed and very very happy.

Then, when I was five months pregnant, I had to go for another ultrasound examination. Again I was given very bad news. This time I was told that I had almost no amniotic fluid in the uterus anymore. The doctor said that there is practically no chance that the baby will survive. He advised me to abort. I went to three other doctors for advice and they all agreed with the first one's prognosis. One of them (an orthodox Jew) allowed that I could try, but he didn't think there was much hope.

I stayed in bed a lot and prayed constantly for this baby. Every week I went for an ultrasound and every week I had a bit more fluid. At the end of the pregnancy everything was back to normal and I gave birth to a beautiful healthy boy.

I learned from my experiences that you cannot trust anybody in this world, only G-d the Creator. I am very thankful for the wonderful gifts that He gave me.

P.S. I told my story to two women who wanted to get pregnant for a long time. One was trying already for two years and another one for ten years. They also became pregnant the same month after they went to Meron to pray, and they both had healthy children.
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Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from two letters of Esther Ben-Yosef posted on //rashbi.org, a dedicated website for Lag b'Omer at Meron.

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Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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