The story of Marisa Christie, a mother from Texas, serves as a profound testament to the fragility and sanctity of life, the miraculous moments that shape our faith, and the extraordinary grace of God’s providence. At just 30 years old, Marisa faced a rare and life-threatening complication during childbirth but emerged with a strengthened resolve and a new mission to raise awareness for others.
Marisa arrived at Memorial Hermann the Woodlands Medical Center for what was meant to be a joyful day—the birth of her triplets via a planned cesarean section. As a mother already blessed with a four-year-old son, Marisa and her husband Dylan had long prayed for another child, even seeking fertility treatments after two years of trying to conceive. God’s answer to their prayers was threefold, as Marisa’s ultrasound revealed not just one baby, but twins—and possibly triplets.
“They were like, ‘We’re pretty sure it’s twins. There might be a third one hiding,’” Marisa told Today, according to Mirror. Yet the prospect of raising four children left the couple overwhelmed. “I cried most of that month,” she recalled, as they adjusted to the idea and prayed for God’s strength to guide them through.
A Rare and Dangerous Complication
At 33 weeks pregnant, Marisa’s joy turned to terror. She suffered an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), a rare condition where amniotic fluid enters the mother’s bloodstream, causing catastrophic complications. “The doctors had pulled all three (babies) out. Actually, they were resting them on my stomach to do a delayed cord clamping. My arms flew up, and that was when my heart stopped,” Marisa recounted.
Dr. Ricardo Mora, the anesthesiologist, described the situation as “pretty catastrophic,” noting that cases like this are often fatal. “She wasn’t breathing. We started CPR because she had no pulse,” Dr. Mora explained. For nearly an hour, Marisa was clinically dead, her heart stopped, and her body hemorrhaging. “She essentially lost what we consider her whole blood volume,” Dr. Mora shared, underscoring the severity of her condition.
The Hand of God at Work
Marisa’s survival can only be described as miraculous. Her medical team, relying on both expertise and grace, placed her on an ECMO machine, which acted as her heart and lungs while her body fought to recover. Dr. Mora, who visited her daily in the ICU, shared, “I needed her to live to raise her kids. So, it was a personal thing for me.” His determination, paired with divine intervention, played a pivotal role in her recovery.
While unconscious, Marisa’s bond with her newborns was nurtured through skin-to-skin contact and familiar scents. Nurses placed baby blankets on Marisa so the triplets—Charlotte, Kendall, and Collins—would recognize their mother’s smell. “They could tell that I was their mom. They respond to me when I talk to them as opposed to other people,” Marisa said. Such moments reflect the deep and unbreakable connection God weaves between mothers and their children.
Faith Amid Healing and Transformation
When Marisa awoke a week later, she struggled to comprehend what had happened. “I was absolutely terrified. … How could I not remember having my babies?” she shared. Her physical recovery was arduous, and the emotional toll was immense. “My core is completely obliterated. So, it was really, really hard for me to move,” she explained. Yet, even in her pain, she found blessings—including the staggered return of her triplets from the hospital, allowing her to adjust to life as a mother of four.
Marisa’s journey is a reminder of the transformative power of suffering. “I feel very disconnected from whoever (I) was before,” she reflected. “I’ve gotten stronger, but I’ve also changed so much because going through a traumatic experience like that changes the way you view things.” For Catholics, her words resonate deeply with the redemptive nature of suffering—how our trials can bring us closer to Christ and help us appreciate the gift of life.
A Mission of Awareness and Gratitude
Today, Marisa is an advocate for raising awareness about AFE. “It’s rare, but it does happen,” she said, emphasizing the importance of medical preparedness and faith in the face of uncertainty. “There were so many miracles that led up to me living instead of dying, and we’re grateful.” Her gratitude echoes the words of Psalm 118:17: “I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.”
Marisa’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the expertise of dedicated medical professionals, and the miracles that occur when faith meets God’s grace. Let her journey remind us to trust in His plan, even in the most challenging circumstances, and to cherish the precious gift of life entrusted to us by our Creator.