Laura Perkins always dreamed of becoming a mom. After an exhausting year of trying to conceive naturally without success, the prospect of undergoing fertility treatments felt overwhelming. Hoping to find clarity and support, Laura and her husband traveled to Nicaragua to plan their next steps. During their visit, Laura opened up about her fertility struggles with members of her church and their pastor. The pastor prayed for her and, before they left, shared a message that would linger with Laura for months. “She told me she knew God had big plans for me; she didn’t know what, but it would be big,” Laura later wrote on Houston Moms Blog. At the time, Laura thought little of those words.
After returning home, Laura decided to try one round of intrauterine insemination (IUI), a fertility treatment where sperm is directly inserted into the uterus to increase chances of pregnancy. After the procedure, Laura was convinced it hadn’t worked. However, a routine check-up revealed otherwise. When the nurse shared the results of her beta hormone levels—a key indicator of pregnancy—she mentioned that the levels were unusually high. This suggested that Laura was expecting multiples.
Initially, Laura and her husband assumed they might be having twins or triplets, which already felt overwhelming given the challenges they faced. But the real surprise came during their first ultrasound. The doctor carefully studied the screen, counting the number of embryos. “I just counted five,” he announced. Laura’s immediate reaction was disbelief. “That’s not possible!” she thought. Then the doctor paused and added, “Hold on, I just found a sixth one.” The couple was stunned, staring at the screen in silence. They had joined the rare 1% of pregnancies that result in sextuplets—six babies at once.
Suddenly, Laura and her husband faced a monumental decision. Carrying sextuplets poses serious health risks to both mother and babies, and the chances of all surviving were slim to none. Their doctor discussed options, including selective reduction, a procedure to reduce the number of fetuses to increase survival odds. Despite the risks, Laura and her husband chose to keep all six babies, determined to give each of them a chance.
The doctor promised to provide the best possible care to help Laura carry the babies as long as possible, aiming for at least 28 weeks—a critical milestone for premature infants. This journey would require constant monitoring, expert medical care, and immense courage from the entire family.
Laura’s story is a testament to hope, faith, and the unexpected turns life can take. From uncertainty and doubt to preparing for the arrival of six tiny lives, she embraced the challenge with strength and determination. The pastor’s words now resonate deeply—God indeed had big plans for Laura, plans that would fill her life with both trials and incredible blessings.