Gaby
My Journey to Motherhood
When I was 17, I began battling serious health problems that led to two complicated surgeries. After those complications, I didn’t even ask the doctors whether I could have children. I just wanted a baby.
When I was 19, I traveled to the Lavra for the first time in my life. There, I learned about the relics of the Infant John, before which childless people pray. One day, overwhelmed by sadness about my situation, I returned to pray before those relics. I prayed with all my heart, asking him to intercede with God to grant me a son. I wanted a son so badly. I still can’t explain why I specifically asked for a boy.
A month later, I found out I was pregnant! The doctors were shocked when I became pregnant, and I couldn’t believe it was possible. The pregnancy was very difficult; I spent four months on bed rest. According to my tests, my blood-clotting level should have been between 40% and 60%, but mine was only 7%. It was a miracle that I was able to give birth.
I wanted to name him Alexey, and I learned that the Lavra also holds relics of Saint Arsenius. I prayed to God—though I didn’t expect it to work—that I would give birth to a healthy boy and that I would survive. I promised that if I gave birth on Saint Arsenius’s feast day, I would never doubt God’s existence and I would bring my child to church. My due date was two weeks later. I gave birth on Saint Arsenius’s feast day.
Now my son is growing up with faith: he knows the prayers, goes to church, and takes Communion. Since then we’ve kept a family tradition: on his birthday he always takes Communion, we buy a bouquet of flowers, and as a family we go to the Lavra to visit Grandfather Arsenius!
Iren
