Christine Pope

On October 26th 2010, against major medical odds, Christine Pope gave birth to her 7lb. 5oz. baby girl. Melanie Grace (called Meatball during the pregnancy) was greeted jubilantly by her daddy, Lamar, and the friends and family who prayed continuously for this day. Christine's mother said, "It takes a village to raise a child, but it took a village and God's grace to bring this child into the world."

In the summer of 2009 Christy and Lamar went to see a reproductive endocrinologist in Charleston, SC because of their difficulty getting pregnant. 1The couple feared the worst case scenario would be in vitro fertilization. The doctor's words stunned Christine. "He told me I had premature ovarian failure. I was only thirty-years-old but this meant I was already starting menopause - my body was not ovulating and producing eggs." Christine, whose humor is as sharp as her faith is deep, didn't know whether to cry or crack a joke.

In shock she heard the doctor outline their options: egg donation or adoption. Egg donation costs $60,000 and is not covered by insurance. It was not an option.

"The thought that I couldn't give Lamar the child we always wanted devastated me. I didn't feel like a whole woman and I felt inadequate as a wife. I prayed to know God's will and I sought counsel from our pastor at Pine Level Baptist Church about a Christian adoption. But I couldn't quit crying. Sometimes I couldn't even pray, but I let other people pray for me."

The answered prayer was a specialist in high risk pregnancies in Columbia, S.C. Christine resisted calling her. "I'd been there, done that, got the T-shirt. I didn't need someone else telling me there was no hope." But she did call and the doctor said, "Come see me. It's not great, but it's not hopeless."

For weeks Christine woke up weekdays at 5:00 a.m. to drive to her 7:45 a.m. appointment in Columbia and drive back to start her day teaching 3rd graders at Okatie Elementary. It paid off. On February 8th, 2010 her doctor retrieved three viable eggs and fertilized two. On February 11th they transferred the two eggs into her uterus. "The next morning I woke up and it was the day it snowed here in South Carolina. It was so amazing I knew it was a sign from God."

Two weeks later, during her school lunch break, she received the call confirming her blood tests were positive. She was pregnant! Her team of teacher friends shrieked and hugged her while Christine screamed "God is great." She called her husband and said the happiest two words she could imagine.  "Hi Daddy."

As Christine recalls this moment her deep, expressive brown eyes fill with tears as her face breaks into a smile. "It was so incredible. This was news I thought I was never going to give him."

In April there was a major scare and Christine's mother and sister raced her to Columbia. She lost one fetus. But she willed herself to be thrilled that the other one survived.

On Monday, September 27th, one month before the baby's due date, Christine went into premature labor. She was given anti-contraction medication and ordered bed rest for the next month. "This was really hard for a Type A, control freak like me, but this whole journey has been a lesson in deepening my faith and surrendering to God. Even my doctor said, 'I assist, God decides.' I struggled but I finally learned to give it to God."

Little Meatball held on and was delivered as scheduled on October 26th. This beautiful, delicate baby girl with huge blue-grey eyes and a pink cap covering a full head of luxuriant, dark hair (attributed to Christine's heartburn during pregnancy) looks up from her pink and chocolate brown nest. Christine picks her up and gently kisses her daughter. A shaft of sunlight shines across their faces as luminous as God's grace.
1 In the United States 7.3 million (11.8%) of the women aged 15-44 have impaired ability to conceive or carry a child to full term. Premature ovarian failure affects 1% of women under 40.

Up Close:

Grew Up: Orange County, New York.
Met her husband:  8 Ω years ago. After the first night, both their mothers knew something special was happening.
Creative Expression: Painted a chocolate brown tree with pink leaves and paisley birds on the wall to match the crib coverlet in Melanie Grace's room. 
Favorite Daddy Moment: Lamar ordered a pink and chocolate brown baby car seat cover on his own!
Favorite Scripture: Joshua 1:9."Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."