Story 3

The eldest of six siblings, Doctor Jeremae Balansag-Samudio had to sell vegetables and

kakanin and worked as a dishwasher in a carinderia to help the family’s income. A dorm mate

shared the gospel to her while studying in Mindanao State University (MSU), General Santos

City. After fully understanding what Christ did she accepted Him as her personal Lord and

Savior. From that moment her life was changed.

God opened doors for her. She entered medical school through her aunt’s support.

In 2013 she got married to Eman Samudio, a naval officer.

After more than a year she and Eman became concerned why they remained childless so they

consulted an infertility doctor. Eman’s sperm analysis was normal. Hers, however, was a

different story. The ultrasound showed a retroverted uterus, an ovarian cyst and a cervical

polyp. But these were the least of her problems.

Another test revealed that both her fallopian tubes were blocked which prompted her OB to tell

them, “You can never get pregnant naturally. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) would be your only

chance but there’s no guarantee.”

And as if that was not enough, her blood test results showed she had other problems as well.

Aside from autoimmune thyroiditis, she also have repro-immuno disorders (RID). Her

immunologist advised her to undergo lymphocyte immunotherapy to prepare her immune

system should they decide to go through IVF.

Dr. Jeremae was overwhelmed. They were eager to start a family and all of a sudden were told

they might never get to raise children of their own. But they chose to continue trusting our God.

“Lord if this painful circumstance will give You glory, then we welcome it with arms open wide,”

she told God.

They waited. But after another year of waiting, they are still without a child. Eman suggested

they seek help again. She refused. Going back would mean IVF and immunotherapies.

Wasn’t it ironic? There she was, a doctor who readily give her patients medical advices but

refuses to take one. When Emman reminded her of James 2:17, she relented. They asked God

what to do the next.

The answer came days after in the form of Dr. Marites Barrientos, whom they met at Back to the

Cross Medical Congress Cebu. Dr. Marites was an answer to their prayers. Her advised was to

have laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. The Samudios readily complied. They found that she has

Endometriosis Stage 4. After it was addressed they were ready to conceive.

They waited for two months for a natural conception. When nothing happened, they decided to

give intrauterine insemination (IUI) a try. Two weeks after the procedure, the pregnancy test

returned positive. They were so happy but it was short-lived. She had a miscarriage on her 7 th

week. Though discouraged, kept believing in God’s goodness even without knowing the reason

why.

Seven months after her miscarriage, they decided to give IUI another try. Results returned

negative. Hopes were still up. They decided to do it the third time. Still negative. So they

decided to put things at rest.

After months, when they least expected it, Doc Jeremae became pregnant. Yes, with no meds,

no anything. Wary because of her previous miscarriage, her immunologist gave her steroids and

aspirin and to have ultra sound every 2 weeks. By God’s grace, their little one inside was

growing very well that by the end of the first trimester their immunologist said they wouldn’t be

needing her anymore.

Things did not stop there. was put on a complete bed rest up until gave birth. At 12 weeks, I

had subchorionic hemorrhages which, thankfully, resolved after two weeks. At 15 weeks, my

neuro requested a transcranial ultrasound because of some symptoms that I was having. At 19

weeks, I was referred to an endocrinologist for my gestational diabetes and at the same time

manage my thyroiditis. On my 23 rd week, I was rushed to the hospital due to threatened pre -

term labor and had frequent contractions since then.

On my 34 th week I was having episodes of unsustained v-tach.

Our journey through infertility and pregnancy was definitely not a walk in the park. But it was full

of God’s grace nonetheless. It was a roller coaster ride but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Finally on January 1, 2018, after 5 years of waiting, we gave birth to a healthy baby boy via C-

section. We named our little miracle Zeb, a gift and portion from the Lord.

Zeb is a proof that God is a God of possibilities, that not even endometriosis stage 4, blocked

fallopian tubes, repro immune diseases cat 1 & 5, alongside with strings of other medical

conditions cannot hold what God has prepared for those whose hope is in Him.

Like David, I cried out to the Lord in my distress, and He answered me.

To Him be the glory alone!

Dr. Jeremae Samudio, a Davanoeña internist I was born and raised in Davao City but moved to

Cavite when I got married.