A Phoenix family experienced a great deal of pain and sadness on their path to parenthood. It wasn’t easy, but they kept their faith and hope alive. Just in time for Christmas, they received a blessing beyond their wildest dreams! Like many other couples, Michael and Margaret Baudinet struggled. They wanted to be parents but encountered obstacle after obstacle as they attempted to grow their small family.
The couple never expected their baby’s prayers to be abundantly answered, but that is exactly what happened. Their story changed the course of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center! While trying to conceive, Margaret had an unusual relationship with hope. She tried to keep her expectations low because of previous incidents. She’d had two miscarriages and knew better than to get overly excited about an unborn child. Whenever she got her hopes up, something bad would happen, in her experience.
Fortunately, her dark period was drawing to a close. On December 4, 2016, when Margaret went into labor and was preparing to deliver her babies, a team of 24 doctors and nurses arrived and made history. The couple chose fertility treatments to help them, and soon after, their doctor informed them that Margaret was not only pregnant, but she was expecting five children.
They were overjoyed, but the unexpected development took their breath away because they knew not all of the babies would survive. “I was stunned when I found out,” Michael admitted, “and I don’t think I talked for about four weeks.” The couple decided to keep all five of their children and relocated to Virginia, where Dr. John Elliott, a multi-birth specialist, could provide the best care. He went over all of the details with the couple and explained how they could have a successful pregnancy.
With his help and that of the St. Joseph’s staff, the couple felt prepared for the significant milestone. They were overjoyed that their dream of becoming parents was on the verge of becoming a reality. Nonetheless, they maintained a low level of excitement. “I figured with five kids, one would make it,” Margaret explained. We tried hard not to get too excited until we realized we might actually have a family at the end of this.
On December 4, 2016, when Margaret went into labor and was preparing to deliver her babies, a team of 24 doctors and nurses arrived and made history. In the hospital’s 121-year history, Ava, Clara, Camille, Luke, and Isabelle were the first quintuplets. They were born at 32 weeks and spent some time in the NICU, but they did remarkably well. The medical team and parents were relieved that all of the children had survived and couldn’t believe Margaret’s Cesarean section had been so simple.
When the babies were successfully delivered, Patty White, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s, was overjoyed. She described the quintuplets as “special to us,” adding, “We call them our Christmas miracles.” Santa paid them a visit during their stay at the facility and helped them get into the holiday spirit. They didn’t need much to keep the love alive, though. Margaret expressed her gratitude, saying, “It’s such a blessing.”
They had everything they could want and couldn’t wait to start a life with their five bundles of joy. The adoring mother had one final message for anyone going through a similar ordeal: “As someone who has waited, please know that God will bless you every day you wait. Joy arrives first thing in the morning. This I am certain of.” Margaret and Michael never gave up hope that their prayers would be answered.
While things weren’t always easy for the couple, and life dealt them some setbacks, they trusted God and received their miracle during a magical time of year. May their story inspire those who are waiting for their own blessing, and we wish their large family all the best and pray that God grants them many happy years together. Click here to read about another mother’s miraculous birth experience. For years, she wished to be pregnant and have a baby, unaware that a blessing beyond her wildest dreams was on the way.