Born Premature, Two Holes in her Heart and No Chance of Survival

Lauren Spruill, recalls, “I felt myself losing control of the pregnancy and I did not have any answers. I was preparing myself for the worst.”

For Lauren Spruill, what began as a miraculous pregnancy quickly turned into a fight for survival. Due to her complicated medical history, doctors told Lauren she would never be able to conceive naturally.

Lauren Spruill, says, “I kind of settled in the fact that I would probably have to adopt, and I was okay with that because I know that one of my callings is to be a mom.”

She attended medical school in Antigua, there, Lauren fell in love and became pregnant.

Lauren Spruill, shares, “I felt guilty, like I was betraying the relationship that I had with God. However, I was just over the moon that I was pregnant, actually really pregnant. I couldn’t believe it.”

Lauren repented and thanked God for the miracle pregnancy. She returned to the United States by herself where her doctors confirmed she was six weeks pregnant, and her baby appeared healthy.

Lauren Spruill, recalls, “Again I was shocked because I was like, ‘Wow, okay, this is really happening.’”

Trouble started at twelve weeks. Lauren began having severe abdominal pain that sent her to the ER three times in just over a week.

Lauren Spruill, says, “It felt as if someone was ripping, like, my organs apart from the inside. I felt this pregnancy is not gonna go to full term and I’m most likely going to miscarry. Inside I was broken. It feels like it’s slipping out of my hands, and I had no control over that.”

Lauren was put on bed rest. Then at 23 weeks, her water broke. Lauren called 911 and was rushed to Westchester Medical Center.

Lauren Spruill, shares, “I said, ‘God, just please, please, please, please save my baby. Please don’t let my baby die. Please don’t let me die.’”

Lauren was admitted, placed on strict bed rest, and given medication hoping to delay the delivery.

Lauren Spruill, recalls, “I was scared of not knowing what was going to happen next. I was scared of, is my baby going to make it? I would pray to God. Our relationship definitely became much, much more stronger during this whole experience because I had no choice but to rely on Him.”

After nearly two weeks, Lauren developed a life-threatening infection, that could endanger both mother and baby. Doctors had no choice but to deliver.

Lauren Spruill, says, “I wanted to cry, but no tears would even form. I was just exhausted at that point because every time I felt as if I was taking one step forward to get to being able to hold my baby, something else was going wrong. And I was a nervous wreck.”

On November 4th, 2022, at just twenty-five weeks, Lauren gave birth to her daughter Samantha. Weighing just 1 pound, and 12 ounces.

Lauren Spruill, shares, “When I heard my baby cry for the first time, it was the most beautiful sound ever. I was just so happy that she was finally here.”

However, Samantha was rushed away, requiring immediate intubation and ventilator support. Hours later, Lauren was wheeled to the NICU to see her daughter.

Lauren Spruill, recalls, “I started crying, she was probably about a little bit bigger than the size of my hand. She was beautiful, but at the same time, I felt like I had failed her. When I saw her hooked up to all the machines, breathing tubes, I knew that whatever was going to be told to me would need to have some sort of divine intervention.”

Samantha had suffered a severe bilateral brain bleed, premature lungs, two holes in her heart and fluid on her brain. She required multiple surgeries. Doctors warned that even if Samantha survived, she might never walk, talk, see, or hear. On November 29th and January 4th, she underwent two delicate brain operations.

Lauren Spruill says, “I had to make life and death decisions. I had to wholeheartedly depend on God in that moment to say, God, you know what’s best for my child. Please make sure that I am making the right decision in this because I didn’t know if it’s gonna be the right decision or not. And it was scary for me to have to make those decisions by myself.”

With every day, Samantha grew stronger, and after 99 days in the NICU, she finally came home. Lauren, now a single mom, led her daughter’s ongoing medical care and support.

Lauren Spruill shares, “I was so nervous and so scared. I just didn’t want anything to go wrong. I felt as if, if we made it this far and God had not let us down, that He would carry us the rest of the way through.”

And He has. Samantha has defied the odds. She is walking, learning, and thriving. Through it all, Lauren says God has faithfully provided, proving that miracles are still possible.

Lauren Spruill says, “God has been so good to both of us. To see my daughter today is such a joy. Being her mom is just amazing. God has shown up when there was little to no hope, and He has changed our circumstances around, and it’s for Him to get all the glory.”