Prayer that moves mountains and babies

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. The clock hands took their time trudging by as the couple sat surrounded by white walls and the smell of lemon cleaner. Finally the doctor came out, unhappy face unmasked. She sat on a trash can between the couple and uttered the news they never wanted to hear'they were having a corneal ectopic pregnancy.

Over spring break Lee students Cyvannah and Andrew Vecchio found out they were once again facing complications with their second child and this time the diagnosis was potentially deadly.

The Vecchios had already experienced birth complications two years ago when their son Crew was born over three months premature. So when Cyvannah felt a sharp pain in her abdomen one and a half weeks into her pregnancy, she knew something was wrong.

'[The pain] was like I had a really intense ab workout that I didn't do,' Cyvannah said. 'It was especially scary since we've dealt with baby problems before.'

The Vecchios rushed to the emergency room where the doctor preformed a blood test and ultrasound. The tests from Erlanger Emergency Department revealed suspicion of a corneal ectopic pregnancy.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine ectopic pregnancies occur in only one to two percent of pregnancies. The egg implants outside the uterus in the fallopian tube, which cannot support the growing embryo.

The tests also revealed fluid in Cyvannah's uterus that she said was thought to be a hemorrhage filled with blood. She said the doctor told her there were three possible outcomes: miscarry, abort the baby or fatal consequences.

'We went home really discouraged'but we were really just sad,' Cyvannah said. 'We had given the control over to God for us getting pregnant, so we knew we would have to rely on him in this situation. We would have to trust he would take care of it no matter what the outcome was.'

The Vecchios returned to the hospital 48 hours later for further testing, not expecting much change. However, the results were what they said was nothing short of a miracle.

The tests revealed Cyvannah's hemorrhage had decreased and her baby had moved from the fallopian tube into the uterus.

According to the AMSRM, 'Women who have ectopic pregnancies, particularly if they have been attempting to conceive for a long period of time, often ask whether the pregnancy can be removed from the tube and then transplanted into the uterus where it might grow normally. Unfortunately, this is not possible with present medical science.'

This may not be possible with medical science, but the Vecchios knew what made it possible for them.

'Hearing that it was all going away, that's a God thing,' Andrew said. 'That's the only way. From all the things that happened to two days later, a clean bill of health is miraculous.'

Cyvannah attributed the change to prayer from family, friends and Greek club members.

'I have no doubt that prayer is a huge changing factor,' Cyvannah said.

On the day of the follow-up appointment she said she felt a sharp pain in morning, and thought she had to schedule an earlier appointment. Later Cyvannah found out at the time of the pain her grandma was praying, where she said, 'Move that baby, move that baby!'

'I was ready for work early that day and Gramp had left early,' Grandma Dianne James told Cyvannah. 'God impressed on me to pray for [her] and the baby. I spent 10 minutes praying and asked for his will for both of [them] because I knew how dangerous the circumstances were.'

The Vecchios said their life has been dramatically changed since the birth of their first son Crew. Cyvannah is finishing her final year at Lee, as well as working part-time after taking a year off.

'It's hard to find time to do my school work,' Cyvannah said. 'By the time I'm able to come in and work on something at school, all the labs are closed or the equipment I need is not available.'

Andrew unenrolled and is working full time to provide for the family.

'I've always been raised in that kind of environment where your first priority [as] a father is to provide and take care of [your family], and then you take care of yourself,' Andrew said.

The hardest part, Cyvannah said, is not relating to her peers.

'[It's hard] still being young enough that I still have friends here at school, but that I have a completely different lifestyle,' Cyvannah said. '[It's hard] feeling alone even though you have friends. Just because they're not in the same place in life.'

Despite difficulties, Cyvannah said her son Crew brings so much joy to her life.

'When I was pregnant with him a lot of people came up to me and told me they felt God had a really big purpose for his life. I felt this too,' Cyvannah said. 'It's a testament to him; how much joy he brings.'

When Cyvannah asks Crew, 'Where's the baby?' he kisses the spot on the stomach where the new baby currently grows healthily.

'It's been a hard road but it's been so worth it,' Cyvannah said.