This episode is the story of our youngest daughter's birth, which began as a planned induction and quickly escalated into a stat C-section. From the moment of delivery, nothing unfolded as expected. Mila was born in critical condition and required immediate, prolonged resuscitation before being transferred to the NICU for intensive care.

We talk about what Stephen experienced inside the operating room as doctors and nurses worked urgently to revive our daughter, including the moment he realized chest compressions were being performed. Rachel shares what she remembers from those first moments, seeing Mila for the first time, holding her, and the shock of leaving the hospital while their baby remained behind.

This conversation explores the days that followed, the uncertainty of a lengthy NICU stay, and the emotional disorientation of living inside both fear and hope at the same time. We reflect on the weight of medical trauma, the role of extraordinary doctors and nurses, and what it means to walk through an experience you cannot yet understand or explain.

This episode is not a retrospective or a summary of outcomes. It is a telling of what it feels like to stand inside a moment where everything is unknown, and to be carried forward by others when you cannot yet carry yourself.

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Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. The experiences, observations, and information shared in this episode reflect our personal journey and our understanding at the time, based on what we lived through and learned along the way. This content is not intended as medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for guidance from qualified healthcare professionals.