Where do I begin with this amazing testimony of God's goodness? I met Shannon aka "Shanny Fro" in 2006 at Master's Commission in Asheboro, NC. We became friends right away and have been friends for the last 16 yrs. I was even a bridesmaid in her wedding. Her and her husband Josh pastor their own church in VA.
Shortly after Shannon got married she wanted to start her family. Nobody ever thinks its going to be hard or take a long time to conceive. For Josh and Shannon it took longer then they'd like. Year after year and appointment after appointment the disappointment started to build. The text messages and phone calls with her crying asking for prayer. It broke my heart to know she wanted a child so bad and it just wasn't happening. Knowing full well that every time one of our friends posted their pregnancy announcement, it made her sad and the questions oh why to God would continue. While they waited for God to answer their prayers, they decided to start fostering. They took in a 4 yr old boy and eventually adopted him. He is now 16! Last year while they continued to wait they felt the tug to foster more children. Along came 3 bubbly, cute little girls who are sisters. They needed a safe place to grow up and feel the love of Jesus. Little did Josh and Shannon know that their act of obedience to taking in these girls was about to unlock a huge blessing for them. Shortly after they stared fostering, they found out THEY WERE PREGNANT!!!
Fast forward to to 2020-2021 where Shannon came across a Napro doctor who literally changed her life. They both got tests done and Shannon had a surgery to set her up for the best possible chance to conceive. We always talked that once she got pregnant Id bedoula. I'll never forget the day I got the text with a positive pregnancy test picture from Shannon. I was driving to a postpartum visit and had to pull over and call her right away. As soon as she picked up I screamed with joy and stared crying. It was finally her turn to have a child of her own. We cried together and thanked God for what He had done.
I began to have face time calls with them to prepare them for pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Im sure we can all remember our 1st pregnancy and birth experience. We were clueless, scared and excited all at the same time. So when the day finally came for me to travel to be with her, I packed up my car and made the 10 hr journey. I left FL on the 16th of July as she was due the 20th-21st. I spent a week with my mom in NC and a week with Shannon in VA. It was so nice to catch up and hang out as we waited for labor to start. She was so ready to meet her sweet baby boy.
The days came and went and labor still wasn't happening. She had reached 41 weeks 1 day when she finally got the call that a room was available for her induction. We loaded up the cars and headed an hour away to the hospital. Once we got there it took a few hrs to get things settled and pitocin started. She labored beautifully and we did all the things to get baby in the right position. There were some really sweet moments where it was just me and her and I could feel the presence of the Lord fill the room. I sat by her bed, holding her hand and praying silently as she rested. Shannon got to 9cm after 24 hrs of labor and felt the urge to push. Baby was still too high. We tried everything to get him to drop into her pelvis and it just wasn't working. The dr came in and said that it may be good to do a csection.
Obviously that wasn't what anyone wanted the outcome to be but God knew what He was doing. The crazy thing is she started out planning a birth center birth when she found out she was pregnant. God knew how it was going to play out. After some talking, praying and tears, she decided to go ahead with the csection. Next thing we knew we were walking back to look in the face of a miracle, 13 yrs in the making!!! Isaiah Asher Yeatts was born at 10:19 pm on July 29th, 2022. 8 lbs 7 0z and 21 3/4 in. He was PERFECT! The tears and prayers of thanks started again. Shannon did it!! She birthed her sweet boy and the prayers she had prayed for 13 years were finally answered.
I stayed with them for as long as I could before I had to head back to their house. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. It truly touched my soul and will be a moment I will never forget. This birth marked me and my doula career for sure. It was an honor to serve the Yeatts family! Now I get to watch Josh and Shannon step into a new chapter of life and be amazing parents to Isaiah and their 4 other kids. Thank you God and thank you Shannon for allowing me to be a part of this beautiful story. I can't wait to watch Isaiah grow and become a mighty young man for Jesus.
If you are in the season of waiting and asking God when will it be your turn...just hold on!
Your miracle is on its way!
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