How Was This Possible?
Estela is mortified, frozen in her tracks. This had to be some sort of joke, right? How could this be possible? A tear trickles down her wrinkled cheek as the doctor reveals to her the truth. Even he - with 25 years of medical experience - had never seen anything like this before.
The 91-year-old felt sick to her stomach. She wanted this to be a nightmare that she would wake up from in just a mere few seconds. But this wasn’t a nightmare. This was her reality. She takes a look at her stomach and a shiver creeps up her spine. There was no coming back from this.
A Happy Couple
For 90-year-old Estela Meléndez and her husband Manuel González, they didn’t need designer clothes or a gigantic mansion to be happy. They were more than content living in their small, but cozy, bungalow in Chile.
The two had been together since they were teens and when they told each other, “I’ll love you forever” they really did mean it. However, their 74-year marriage was about to get torn in two, and their lives were about to change forever.
An Unfortunate Passing
You see in 2015 Manuel, unfortunately, passed away in his sleep aged 91, leaving his wife devastated and heartbroken. A mere one year younger than her late husband, how would Estela cope with everyday chores now her husband had gone?
She struggled massively, even cooking for one felt like she was competing in a marathon. Estela thought things couldn’t get any worse, but so she was so wrong.
What Was She Going To Do Now?
After spending pretty much her entire life stood by her soulmate's side, for Estela when Manuel passed, it was like her heart had been ripped from her chest.
She tried her best to stay positive and calm but there was no denying it was hard. She often thought back to the time they spent together and reveled in the bittersweet memories. But there was one regret that Estela had, and she would take to the grave.
Troubled Times
You see, the two didn’t have any children as early on in their relationship, they found out that Estela was unable to conceive and get pregnant.
It was heartbreaking to hear this, especially since the two longed to start a family. But the reason behind Estela not being able to have a baby was a mystery for decades. And when she found out the truth she was left feeling sick to her stomach.
A Failure In Life?
Once Estela was told she couldn’t get pregnant, she spent the whole of her life feeling like she had failed. Estela's sisters and friends all had children, and every time she saw them in their perfect happy family, her heart ached. She should be doing that. She should be raising a child.
However, a few years later, Estela found a tumor in her stomach. It wasn’t dangerous, but it was still another shot to the heart. However, little did she know a tumor would be the least of her worries.
A Year Later
The year following her husband's death, Estela now aged 91, was hit with numerous bills and never-ending medical issues. She started to lose her hearing, and she also developed arthritis.
Not to mention she was gaining weight as if she had been eating 2 slices of cake a night, but she wasn’t. Little did this 91-year-old know, things were about to get even worse.
The Weight Wasn’t Shifting
You see, Estela had been trying to lose weight for a while now. She had tried every diet you could think of; cabbage soup, vegan, Atkins, etc. She knew it was harder at her age, but that didn’t stop her.
However, the weight wasn’t going anywhere. In fact, it seemed like she was putting more weight on! She went to the doctors a mere few miles away, determined to find out the truth. But Estela had no idea what was coming.
At The Doctors
She arrived at the doctors and waited to be called in. Hospital and doctor rooms had been her life for the past 10 years. She was not a stranger to the sterile walls and the gross smell of the doctor's room.
She waited to be called. But for some strange reason, she had a terrible feeling hit her stomach. She knew something was off. And she was so right.
An X-Ray
The doctor wanted to make sure everything was ok so he did an x-ray on Estela. They also wanted to check on the tumor she had in case there was something wrong.
However, the results from the x-ray would turn Estela’s world upside down. Nobody expected this to happen.
His Mouth Dropped
After carefully analyzing the results, the doctor came to the conclusion that Estela had never had a tumor in the first place!
What was a matter with her then? The doctor’s mouth dropped open and his eyes widened every glance he gave the x-ray. What Estela had inside her was something much more alarming than a tumor. The doctor had never seen anything like this before.
Never Saw Anything Like This Before
This had to be a joke right? This couldn’t be true. How could this be possible? Hundreds and hundreds of questions ran through Estela’s mind as the doctor revealed the truth.
She felt sick to her stomach. She just wanted this to be a nightmare, one she would wake up from in a few seconds. But this was her reality. She takes a look at her stomach, and a shiver creeps up her spine.
Pregnant
It turned out this 91-year-old was actually pregnant! Estela was overwhelmed with emotion the moment the doctor told her. How did this happen? What exactly was going on?
The doctor revealed that the baby was actually the remains of a fetus. But Estela was left even more lost for words when doctors informed her how long she had been carrying the baby for.
How Was This Possible?
The doctors further analyzed the fetus, and were able to conclude that Estela had been pregnant with it, for around 60 years!
Estela was heartbroken to hear this news. After all, all her life she had wanted a child of her own, to raise and nurture. However, unbeknownst to her, an unborn child was in fact inside her for more than half a century! But the doctors had a lot more to say.
The Truth
Doctors informed Estela that her condition, called lithopedion, only affects a small percentage of women worldwide.
Doctors call the fetuses lithopedions or stone babies and are the result of a fetus that starts to develop outside a pregnant woman’s womb. But how would everybody else in Estela’s small-town respond to her strange medical condition?
Talk Of The Town
Everybody was as equally as surprised when they heard about Estela’s condition. Some felt uncomfortable, others comforted Estela in her time of need.
However, it would turn out there would be an even bigger surprise right around the corner – one that would come from her long-departed husband.
Going Viral
Estela’s mind spun as the world reacted to her condition.
First it was social media, then the news outlets. From the The Washington Post to BBC, everyone wanted to talk with her. But that wasn’t the worst part.
Unexpected Visitors
Some people – from journalists to the general public actually came to see her in person ... without asking first.
Some were understanding when she politely told them she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Others became prickly and offended that they had “wasted all their money” to come and see her. They just didn’t understand what they were really doing to her.
Too Painful
Each visit was like reopening an already fresh wound.
Her heart was filled with so much longing that she found herself rummaging around in the attic where she had stored her late husband’s belongings. Some of them she hadn’t even opened since the day he passed – which would turn out to hold an enormous revelation.
Down Memory Lane
Estela pulled items one by one, trying to ignore the aching in her joints and focusing on the memories that came with them.
One was a seashell her husband had picked up from the beach and strung into a necklace. Afterwards, they had watched one of the most beautiful sunsets she had ever seen in her life. But next, was an ood stack of papers.
Forgotten Papers
The pile was a mishmash of old receipts, documents, and some holiday cards.
So much had been swept into boxes without looking. But as she rifled through the musty smelling papers, an envelope caught her eye. It had her name on it ... and it was her husband’s handwriting.
Expressions Of Love
This wasn’t any letter she could remember, but it started out the same ... “To the love of my life.”
Each letter curled into words, and each word made her heart swell. They were words of adoration and promises of forever. It must have been during a time he was away, and they were missing each other desperately. But it was near the end that punched her in the chest.
The Words She Needed
It was like fate was reaching out to her directly.
“I know it’s been hard. I know how much you want kids. But even if we don’t have them, please remember it doesn’t make you any less of a person. I see how you are with the people around you ... and it’s beautiful. You’re filled with so much life and love for them. I had you. And that’s enough for me.”
From The Grave
Estela grabbed her frantically beating heart and sobbed.
Even in the afterlife, he was taking care of her. Their love was truly eternal. After the so-called pregnancy, she had felt like a failure all over again, but this letter suddenly wiped that all away. She was sure of one thing.
Spreading Her Light
She had already made it through so many years and there was no knowing how many more were ahead of her.
Whatever her final days would be, she would use them to keep spreading that light and love her husband adored so much.