This is a miracle story of the brain-dead mother Frankielen da Silva Zampoli Padilha who gave birth to twins via life support for 123 days. It is a narrative of hope and determination in fighting for one’s human right to live. Similarly, the story underscores the high calling of medical doctors in prolonging, if not promoting human life. Though the story credits its success to the wonders of 21st-century science, it ultimately teaches of God’s will and purpose on why incredible things happen.
Cerebral Hemorrhage caused her death
In October 2016 in Contenda, Brazil, 21-year old Frankielen da Silva Zampoli Padilha begged her husband Muriel Padilha to rush her to the hospital. Pregnant for nine weeks, Frankielen complained of an excruciating pain at the back of her neck. Muriel recalled her parting words for him were, “I want you to be prepared to accept this because I will be staying there, I won’t be coming home”.
True enough, she succumbed to cerebral hemorrhage after three days of rigorous medical procedures and treatment. The doctors at Nosso Senhora do Rocio Hospital in Campo Largo subjected Frankielen to numerous CT scans and tests, strong drugs, and antibiotics to save her but to no avail. Cognizant of her pregnancy, the doctors knew that the medical procedures and treatment were fatal to the lives of the fetuses inside her. Hence, they did not expect the fetuses to survive but instead waited for their last heartbeat. But this did not happen. The twins clung to dear life. They wanted to live.
The twins fought for their lives
Dr. Dalton Rivabem, chief of the hospital’s Neurological ICU, was amazed by this development. He solicited help from a doctor based in Portugal who had managed a similar case (He handled a case of sustaining a dead woman for 107 days). Rivabem told his team of 20 medical specialists to keep Frankielen’s organs working for the continuous growth and development of the fetuses. Some health professionals provided vicarious warmth to the unborn twins by gently caressing Frankielen’s abdomen. Others played musical instruments.
After 123 days of keeping Frankielen ‘alive’, in February 2017, on the seventh month of the fetuses, Rivabem’s team performed a Caesarian section. The twins Anna Vitoria and Asaph Padilha were born and were immediately incubated.
Rivabem was very pleased that they were able to help the twins fight for their life to exist. He acknowledged the Frankielen case was a first to their team. He admitted how the case dared their expertise. He sounded accomplished, as quoted in Apost post, “There have been other cases but ours is the longest one with 123 days – four months, and we started with embryos at two months and delivered twins,” he said.
Indeed, miracles of ancient biblical times can still happen these days with a modern twist, to serve a divine purpose. Only God knows what Asaph and Anna Vitoria Padilha would become in the future. They defeated death; God, the life-giver, allowed them to live. For now, they are a living marvel left by Frankielen to give joy to their loved ones.