Marika’s Story Against all odds

Marika’s Story: Against all odds…

September 9, 2022

Marika hugged her 3-year-old son, Kaden, goodbye as she and her husband, Kellis, left the house full of excitement and anticipation to welcome their second baby boy.

Marika went into labor and was told that she needed to have an emergency C-section. Marika’s mother, Jewel, and Kellis remember Marika smiling and laughing as they rolled her to the operating room. While they waited to be brought back “Code Blue” was called repeatedly over the sound system. Jewel knew it was her baby girl.

Kenzo Love was born September 9, 2022, 6 pounds 11.1 ounces and 20 inches. What started as a joyous celebration of life quickly turned into heartbreak. Marika Love suffered an Amniotic Embolism during the operation, from amniotic fluid entering her lungs. Marika went into cardiac arrest on the operating table. The medical team was able to revive her heart, however, Marika continued to decline. They transferred Marika from Oakland Kaiser to Santa Clara and placed her on a ECMOmachine for life support.

Still, she declined… They discovered that she had serious internal bleeding and they needed to operate without knowing exactly where the bleeding was coming from. Several surgeries later the bleeding was controlled, and Marika’s vitals were stable. A MRI revealed that Marika suffered extensive brain damage from oxygen and blood loss.

The road to recovery has been long, but Marika is still here!

Once her heart and lungs were strong enough, the ventilator and ECMO machine were disconnected and Marika was able to breathe on her own. However, complications continued. Her stomach wound had not closed and was exposed to air. More surgeries were needed to close her stomach wound. The last step was to focus on her brain and different ways to stimulate it.

Fast forward to March 2024, Marika is still recovering from this horrific incident. Marika’s stomach wound is healing, she can laugh, stand with assistance, and give you a fist bump. Marika has moved back home with her two sons Kaden and Kenzo, and her husband Kellis. Although Marika has fought hard to overcome impossible odds, she still has lots of work to do. Marika is continually going to physical therapy in an attempt to regain her ability to walk, talk, eat, and play with her babies.

Against all odds… When the doctors said she was “Brain dead”, she proved them wrong. When they said she wouldn’t open her eyes again, she proved them wrong. When they said she would show no emotion, like crying or contentment, she proved them wrong. We pray that she continues to prove them wrong as she becomes whole. I pray you find it in your heart to help Marika and her family anyway possible.

As she receives her healing in Jesus’ name…

We pray that she continues to defy all odds. We pray Marika regains the ability to be able to pick up her babies and hug them over and over again. We pray Marika’s husband, Kellis, who has been so faithful and committed to her, will be able to walk and laugh with his wife again.

We pray that Marika‘s family will be overjoyed with blessings and victory! I pray that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit will be with this family. Hallelujah.

This family has been overburdened with financial setbacks. They need the support of friends and family. If you have it within your heart, please bless them financially with the gift of a donation. We pray that you are blessed.

Her mother Jewel said, “Please pray hard for my baby. This is the hardest thing in my life. I love her so much, she’s everything to me. “