Mom Forced To Make Terrifying Choice As Doctors Say 1 Of Her 4 Babies Is Dying
March 09, 2018

Ivanna Cardenas-Gutierrez loved each of her babies the second she laid eyes on their four, tiny heartbeats in her first ultrasound. So naturally, it was devastating to hear one of those babies was dying. Doctors presented her with two terrifying options and asked her to make a choice. But God His hand all over this inspirational story of a mom carrying quadruplets!
Inspirational Story Of A Mom Carrying Quadruplets: The News
First-time mom Ivanna Cardenas-Gutierrez and her husband David got quite the surprise in 2014 at their first ultrasound. Doctors spotted more than one baby on the screen!
RELATED: 17 True Inspirational Stories of Real-Life Overcomers
At first, the technician said they were having twins. A few minutes later, they spotted a third baby. But there was more -- a fourth heartbeat emerged. They were having quadruplets!
“I thought they were just playing around with me,” Ivanna recalled. “ I was like are you guys playing a joke on me, right?”
But this was no joke!
The news came as a shock, but a pleasant one. The couple wasn't using any kind of fertility drugs, and the odds for naturally conceiving quadruplets are extremely rare. But they had always dreamed of having a big family. So, this inspirational story of a mom carrying quadruplets was just God answering their prayers all at once!
“To have a big family, we are just blessed,” Ivanna said.
Then, a little over half-way through the pregnancy at 27-weeks, doctors delivered some terrifying news. One of the babies -- Gabriel-- wasn't getting enough oxygen. The couple faced an excruciating choice -- let the baby in distress die or prematurely deliver, putting all four lives at risk.
“You need to make the decision right now if you want to keep going with the pregnancy and one of the babies will die in your belly or go ahead and take them out,” doctors told Ivanna.
Inspirational Story Of A Mom Carrying Quadruplets: The Choice
A decision like this is where faith comes in. Carrying on with her pregnancy ensured one baby would die. But delivering early at least offered a chance for all four babies to live, leaving their fate in the hands of their Heavenly Father.
RELATED: Couple Trusted In God After Doctors Said Their Quadruplets Faced Terrible Odds
And so, Ivanna and David chose the emergency c-section, even though the premature babies had only a forty percent chance of survival. God would take care of the little ones!
And that's exactly what He did.
Quadruplets Gabriel, Julian, Sebastian, and Francesca, made their debut August 18, each only weighing a pound or two. Medical staff rushed all four infants straight to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
But Gabriel was the smallest and most at risk, weighing just one pound and three ounces. While the other babies adjusted quickly, Gabriel started having seizures and his oxygen levels kept dropping.
“He was dying. . . His color change[d] -- he was starting to get white. They told us, we’re going to open the incubator so you can say your last words to him and say goodbye,” Cardenas explained.
With Gabriel's life so close to its end, Ivanna and David leaned on God. They hit their knees in prayer, using social media to beg others to do the same. And for reasons doctors still can't explain, Gabriel's oxygen levels miraculously started going up.
“I thought there were so many people praying for them that that’s what helped them get better,” David said.
RELATED: Survival Of ‘Micro-Preemie’ Quadruplets Is ‘Nothing Short Of Miraculous’
Inspirational Story Of A Mom Carrying Quadruplets: The Miracle
Instead of passing away, as doctors expected, Gabriel just kept on slowly improving. It took nearly five months, but the little warrior kept gaining weight and getting stronger until finally, he got to joins his parents and siblings at home!
“He’s a miracle baby. They all are, but he’s a fighter,” Ivanna said.
Aside from a few minor surgeries, Gabriel continued to flourish at home, as did his brothers and sister. And Ivanna and David knew they had God to thank for their beautiful, healthy family.
“We had a lot of tough times in these three months but at the end, it’s been a blessing,” father David said.
Now, the quadruplets are 3 years old and doing great. Praise God!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Couple Faces Infertility For 11 Years, Then Has 4th Of July Quadruplets
This inspirational story of a mom carrying quadruplets is just another example of God at work today!
h/t: Miami Herald
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Revival in the Church - Your Daily Prayer - June 17
True revival requires believers to recognize their role in the Great Commission and be willing to move into action!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Revival in the Church - Your Daily Prayer - June 17
True revival requires believers to recognize their role in the Great Commission and be willing to move into action!
Past Stories
- Vietnam Vet Passes Away, His Mailman Rushes to Adopt His Dog
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
- Autistic 8-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing, Found by Water Thanks to Quick Response
- Two Nurses Come to the Rescue of a Teen Girl in the Process of Being Kidnapped
- Brave Man Jumps Into Water to Save Woman After She Was Attacked By Bull Shark
- She Was Going to Miss Prom After Breaking Her Back at a Trampoline Park, the Hospital Had Other Plans
- Mom Finds Hope After Tragedy, Hears Her Daughter’s Heartbeat in a Child Who Got a Second Chance
- 90-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Has Saved Over 10,000 Animals, and She’s Still Not Slowing Down
- First Responders Rescue 9-Month-Old From House Fire By Going Through Window
- Playful Black Bear Climbs Playground and Rides the Slide, Just Like a Kid
- Singer Michael Bolton Opens Up About His Aggressive Brain Cancer Diagnosis
- Brave 5-Year-Old Climbs 35 Feet Up a Tree, Firefighters Rush to the Rescue
- Woman Finds Her Father After Almost 28 Years — And Learns the Truth About Why He Left
- Woman Saves Her Late Son’s Best Friend’s Mom With a Life-Changing Donation
- An Indie Bookstore Asked for Help, What Happened Next Will Warm Your Heart
- From Teen Sweethearts to 80 Years of Marriage: ‘God Was So Good to Give Him to Me’
- WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
- 88-Year-Old Korean War Veteran and Great-Grandfather Graduates From College
- One Year After Losing Boys in a Fire, Parents Find Light in the Form of a Beautiful Blessing
- They Dress Up As Disney Princesses to Bring Joy and Hope to Sick Children, and it's Amazing
- This Couple Parents Triplets and Foster Sons from Wheelchairs, and It’ll Leave You Inspired
- Two-Year-Old is Found By Rancher's Dog After Walking 7 Miles From Home
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'

Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin’s Powerful Live Rendition of ‘The First Hymn’ Will Stir Your Soul

Passion Music Passion's Soul-Stirring 'Agnus Dei' Live Performance

Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys

toby mac TobyMac's 'Nothin' Sweeter' Official Lyric Video
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.