When Doctors Gave Up, Faith Brought Our Miracle

I’m sharing my story in the hope that it strengthens someone else’s faith. Because when we look closely, we realize there really are no coincidences—only Hashem’s hand in everything.

It happened in 2004. I was just 18 weeks pregnant when my water broke. I was rushed to the emergency room and immediately hospitalized. The doctors told us I would need to stay in the hospital until the baby was born.

It was a very emotional and challenging time—for me, and of course, for my husband. I arrived on a Friday, and in our very first conversation with the doctors, they gently but clearly told us that they were recommending a termination. They said we should prepare for a quiet birth. But before making any decision, we said we would first speak to a rabbi.

Right after Shabbat, my husband went to consult with the holy Rabbi Elazar Abuhatzeira ztz”l. The rabbi’s answer was firm and filled with faith: As long as the baby had a heartbeat and the pregnancy wasn’t endangering my life, we should continue.

So I stayed. In total, I was hospitalized for 93 days. Ninety-three long, emotional, and difficult days filled with many tests—not just medical ones, but spiritual and emotional too.

A Difficult First Conversation

Once we told the doctors we were keeping the pregnancy, we had a very blunt and painful conversation. They told us the baby could be born without arms or legs. They said she might live for only a few hours. As someone who had already gone through two miscarriages—both without a heartbeat—this was heartbreaking to hear.

I will never forget the doctor’s final sentence in that conversation: “Who’s going to raise a disabled child? The rabbi won’t raise her.”

I couldn’t stay silent. I looked the doctor in the eyes and said, “No, the rabbi doesn’t need to raise her. We will—with Hashem’s help.”

Yes, I understood the risks. But I believed, with all my heart, that Hashem was guiding us and that whatever would be—would be for the best.

The First Signs of Hope

Just a few days later, I began to feel sharp pain. The doctors told me it was probably the fetus about to fall. But what actually happened was that she moved into a breech position, which turned out to be a blessing—it helped protect her, even with the low amniotic fluid.

That was the first time I saw clearly that Hashem was holding us through this.

Doctors Gave Up—But I Didn’t

The treatment I received was... difficult. The doctors didn’t treat me like a regular pregnant woman. They barely did any tests, assuming I wouldn’t make it much longer and nature would take its course. But I didn’t accept that. I demanded a system review, and I’ll never forget how the doctor rushed through it and brushed off my questions, saying, “It doesn’t really matter.”

I lay there crying, silently praying that Hashem would bless me with a healthy, whole baby.

A Step of Faith

Throughout the pregnancy, my husband and I grew stronger in our emunah, with support from our incredible families. One day, my husband gently asked me, “Would you consider covering your hair?”

I had only worn a head covering on Shabbat and holidays until then. But without hesitation, I said yes. It felt like Hashem opened my mouth and spoke for me.

The very next morning, I put on a head covering before going for another ultrasound. The doctor who had been tracking my fluid levels was shocked to find several small pockets of amniotic fluid—enough to sustain the baby. It was the first real ray of hope.

Later, I found out that the night before the test, my mother-in-law had gone to a Torah scroll dedication and prayed for us. We both cried with joy.

Not Everyone Understood

Wearing the head covering had one unexpected consequence. During a routine checkup, a senior doctor noticed it and immediately said, “There’s no point in talking anymore.” When I asked if it was because of my covering, he just pulled the curtain and moved on. It hurt. But Hashem gave me the strength to keep going.

The Miracle Birth

I spent almost every moment in bed. Meals were brought to me. I only got up when absolutely necessary. Other women in the ward began to hear about my story, and some even came to talk and share theirs.

Despite the cold treatment from some of the staff, all my tests came back normal—except for the low fluid. But because of the risk, I was treated as a lost cause. They even told me horrible things just to protect themselves from future lawsuits. But I kept praying.

Finally, in my eighth month, on a Shabbat, I began feeling terrible back pain. A nurse hooked me up to a monitor and saw strong contractions. I started bleeding, then suddenly had a 40°C fever. They rushed me into the operating room.

And then—our miracle happened.

Meet Hodaya

Our little baby girl was born, weighing just 1.35 kg. She was placed in NICU, tiny and hooked up to tubes. I visited her in a wheelchair the next day and knew we had a long road ahead. But she was alive—and whole.

Later, I ran into the head of the maternity ward—the very doctor who first told me to end the pregnancy. He said, “You should be in the Guinness Book of Records. I’ve never seen a case like yours.” I told him, “It’s all from Hashem. If He wants a soul in the world, He will bring her.”

My husband returned to Rabbi Abuhatzeira to share the happy news and ask what name we should give her. To thank Hashem, we named her Hodaya—which means “gratitude.”

She stayed in the hospital until she gained weight and no longer needed oxygen. And then we finally brought her home.

A Special Gift

Every child is a gift, but Hodaya? She was something beyond. A living, breathing miracle. A soul Hashem wanted in this world.

To anyone going through pain or uncertainty—keep praying. Keep believing. Every prayer counts, and nothing goes unanswered.

And thank you—thank you to my dear husband, my parents, siblings, and in-laws. Your support, your love, and your prayers helped us through every moment.