by Kasandra Kessell

Created on: January 12, 2009   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

" Unexpected arrival "

The headline of the well respected "Times Reporter " newspaper of Dover, Ohio on June 11, 1973.

A woman has been announced to having been admitted to the hospital on May 30, 1973 and then subsequently giving birth to her third daughter at 12:16 p.m. Not so unusual, it happens everyday, right? Not quit.

This particular woman had no idea that she was pregnant, and in fact had been waiting anxiously for days to become a grandmother at the age of thirty-four. She did, on May 30, 1973.

During her unbeknown pregnancy, she had fallen off of a two story house while working on an outdoor project, been admitted to the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning, and had several x-rays for chest pain. Through all of these hospital visits, she was never told that she was pregnant, nor did she suspect it. It is amazing that this child was ever even born, let alone healthy, but it was. They called in every specialist available, and come to the conclusion that this was a "miracle baby".

As she looks back now, she can remember having some discomfort or slight cramping, but she thought that it was just sympathy pains for her daughter who was due to have her first child in May.

On May 30, 1973 at 12:42 a.m., she became a grandmother. Shortly after, she began having labor pains and was admitted herself. She thought maybe she was dying, and when they told her that she was going to have baby, she thought they were all insane.

Her friends, co-workers, and other family members were shocked as the the word quickly spread, but not half as much as she was. She wasn't prepared for a newborn. She had nothing that a baby needs.

At her amazement, when she arrived home for the first time after delivery, her home was absolutely filled with everything she would ever need to care for a newborn child, and plenty to share with her new grandchild that was born just hours before her own.

I have first account knowledge of all of these facts, as only a few are included in the newspaper article written so many years ago. It is extremely unusual to be pregnant and not know it, especially as time progresses, but I assure you, it can happen.

I beleive that everything in life happens for a reason. We may not always understand or agree, but nonetheless strange things do occur from time to time, and it is our responsibility as human beings to learn from it.

So there it is, it really happened, end of debate. I now have a nephew that celebrates his birthday on the same day and year as myself because you see, that little "miracle baby" was me.

Learn more about this author, Kasandra Kessell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.