By Dave Andrusko
Sometimes you’re left almost speechless by the evidence of a couple’s rock solid faith in the face of a very difficult prognosis for their unborn twins.
Nicole and Austin LeBlanc learned she was pregnant with their first child last year. However, after just 10 weeks, Nicole said doctors discovered that she was pregnant with twins – and they were conjoined, according to the Catholic News Agency.
“Nothing ever would’ve prepared me for the ultrasound technician saying, ‘Your twins are very special because they are conjoined and they share a heart,’” Nicole, who is now 29 weeks pregnant, told Francesca Pollio Fenton.
Doctors immediately deemed the pregnancy high-risk and suggested termination.
“They definitely pushed an abortion agenda on us and on our babies,” she said. “That is something that we were not okay with and something we are totally, completely against because even though I couldn’t feel them moving at 10 weeks, I could see them clearly jumping together off the side of my womb, jumping together, so it’s a human life.”
Nicole, who is 24, took to social media to share her experience. Her initial post was beautiful:
Hello if you’re new to my Instagram page! My name is Nicole Duque LeBlanc and I am pregnant with conjoined twins. This is my first pregnancy and my husband and I are so blessed to have been chosen by God to have special twins! Our twins are special because they share 1 heart, 1 liver, diaphragm, bowels and umbilical cord. My babies are measuring 24 weeks this week and despite sharing a malformed heart, they are growing appropriately! Praise God!
We don’t know how much time we will have with our babies, but as of now, I will have a c section at 35 weeks and letting God be in control of the situation.
Nicole said she has been showered with prayers and support from pro-lifers.
“The pro-life community is absolutely amazing,” she said. “They encouraged me to make a baby shower registry on Amazon and all of the things that I had were quickly purchased, even if they were to live for a day.”
Her husband, Austin, shared that this experience has been a test of faith, “but through it all the couple has relied on praying the rosary together daily,” Fenton wrote.
“We get together every night and we pray the rosary. That’s one of the biggest things … and just knowing that God has a plan for everything and there’s always a purpose for everything,” he told the Catholic News Agency.
Several saints and biblical figures have also impacted the couples’ faith and inspired the names they chose for their twin girls — Maria Therese and Rachel Claire.
“We definitely want to have our babies be gifts to our Blessed Mother so, Maria, the Latin name for Mary,” Nicole explained. “And I’ve always had a special connection with the Old Testament story of Rachel so, Maria Therese and Rachel Claire.”
Nicole added, “I really think that the pro-life community is growing and I know that our testimony will be part of that, and I hope to do more work in the future as well.”