By Taryn and Aaron Smith
Natural Family Planning
Aaron and I were both raised in a Catholic family that taught us the Church’s teachings. We both attended Catholic schools and religious education programs. I was taught about Natural Family Planning (NFP) in late middle school, and again my senior year of high school. I always knew when I got married, my spouse and I would practice NFP; there weren’t any other options for me. Thankfully, when Aaron and I started dating, and that became a topic of discussion, he was 100% on board. We were both open to having children right away, so when we were married in July 2021, God answered our prayers and we welcomed our first son exactly nine months later.
When our son was around a year old, we decided we were open to start growing our family again. But, things didn’t happen as quickly as they did the first time, and I started to worry. I had a gut feeling (I know now that was the Holy Spirit) telling me that something was wrong. I had doctors tell me, “It always takes longer with the second child, just keep trying for at least a year.” Thankfully, our NFP practitioner, Terri, was right there to listen to all my concerns. She connected us with Dr. William Blanke, the locally supportive NFP doctor, and he immediately saw us for an appointment. We quickly realized that I was going to need a higher level of medical care than Dr. Blanke could provide, but he left us with something that we carried with us our entire journey. Dr. Blanke told us to pray the Divine Mercychaplet, and to be constantly reminded of Jesus’ mercy for us; this was all a part of His plan for us. Jesus, I trust in you.
We were connected with Dr. Gavin Puthoff in St. Louis, Missouri, a highly trained NFP doctor and NAPRO surgeon. My first appointment was with one of his nurse practitioners and it was the most thorough appointment I have ever been to. After lab draws, ultrasounds, NFP chart reviews and physical exams, I was diagnosed with stage two endometriosis, and a five centimeter left tubal cyst, both of which required surgery. Dr. Puthoff informed us, had we gotten pregnant before surgery with a cyst of that size, it could have caused serious damage including loss of my tube and/or ovary. He also told us that endometriosis is the number one cause of secondary infertility.
After receiving that diagnosis, I felt like my world was rocked. I was so thankful to be getting answers, but was also questioning, “Why me, God?” I couldn’t understand why we were being asked to carry this heavy cross. When it came time to schedule surgery, I was originally told his schedule was booked out for six months. My heart sank, and I thought, there is no way I can wait that long. That’s when God’s mercy showed up again. “I’m not sure why he has this opening next month, but if you’d like to get it scheduled for April 10, I can get your name on the books,” were the next words that came from his scheduler’s mouth. I couldn’t believe it. Thank you, Jesus! April 10, 2024, was the Wednesday following Divine Mercy Sunday. I was going to be having surgery at “Mercy Hospital,” just a few days after “Divine Mercy Sunday.” Jesus, I trust in you!
When surgery was concluded, Dr. Puthoff was pleased with how everything went, and said we could start trying for another child soon after. Just three months from April, we received that positive pregnancy test we had been longing for. We are over half way to meeting our miracle baby, due exactly one year from my surgery, early April 2025. I am back under the care of Dr. Blanke for this pregnancy, and the baby is growing healthy, right on track as it should. We could not be more thankful or feel more blessed. Baby is set to be baptized on April 27, 2025, which indeed is Divine Mercy Sunday! Jesus, I trust in you!
Without the help of NFP, I truly do not believe we would have ended up in the care of Dr. Blanke or Dr. Puthoff, thus delaying proper diagnosis and treatment. While this was not an easy cross for us to carry, we can’t help but to be thankful because it was all a part of God’s plan for us. It strengthened our marriage and our faith. Everything happens on God’s timing, not ours, and ultimately, he knows what is best.
Taryn and Aaron Smith, and their son, Harrison, are members of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Haubstadt.