Even if the sky is falling down - A Volodymyr Zelenskyy fanfiction

Chapter 23 - We can't lose them

*A few weeks later*

I wake up in the middle of the night. A stitch spreads through my whole body. It hurts so much. I wait for a moment and try to listen what my body tries to tell me. There's another stitch. I sit up in an upright position. While doing so, I feel blood running over my inner thigh. 

"Vova", I whisper into the dark. He seems to sleep very deep because at first, he doesn't react. "Vova, wake up, please", I say, louder now. He finally heard me and turns around. "What's up, honey?", he asks. "Did you have a bad dream?". "No... something... is wrong", I try to find the right words. "What is wrong? Something with the babies?", he asks concerned, fully awake now. "I fear, yes. I'm...bleeding", I tell him. 

He gets up from bed very fast and turns on the lights. When his eyes meet mine, I can see endless concern and fear in them. I look down my body. Holy shit, there's so much blood between my legs. Inevitably, I start shaking. I need to take a deep breath to calm down. 

"I'll call the ambulance", Volodymyr says in the meantime. Then he runs out of the room. I touch my babybump to get in contact with our babies. Tears build up in my eyes. Why does this has to happen? Don't we have to face enough misery? We can't lose them. 

Volodymyr returns and comes to sit by my side. He reaches for my hand and presses it. "Shhh, don't cry. Help is on the way. And I'm here. You're not alone", he says. But I can hear the struggle in his voice. "I'm scared", I let him know. "And it – hurts so much", I add. He leans over to hug me. He presses me against his body as if he could stop the blood from running out of my body by doing that. He then leans his forehead against mine. "When will we stop losing everything?", I ask him, in tears. "Don't say that. We won't lose the twins. They are fighters. They are Ukrainians, you know?", he answers. "I hope, you're right", I say.

Finally, the ambulance arrives. Two paramedics lift me up on a stretcher and carry me to the ambulance-vehicle. Volodymyr doesn't leave my side. The parademics make an ultrasonic investigation while we are driven to Kyiv Central Hospital. "We have a heartbeat of both of your babies. That's a good sign", they tell us. 

In the hospital, I have to undergo some more investigations. Volodymyr is allowed to stay with me. "We need to operate to check where the blood comes from and of course, to stop it", the senior physican tells us. "That also means that we have to bring the babies into this world. But don't worry, they are strong enough. The date for the planned Caesarean section would have been in two weeks. That should be no problem", he tries to calm us. "But we need to anesthetize you in that case. And you, Mr. Zelenskyy, can't be with her. I'm sorry for that. But the operation won't last long and you can be reunited, soon", he promises. 

That is clearly not the way how I thought that I would give birth. But fortune decided it like that. Things never happen how someone plans them. At least, Volodymyr has the chance to be around me. 

Before I am brought into the operation room, Volodymyr and I have a second for us. He leans down to kiss me. "You'll get through this. I can't tell you how proud I am of you. And after this, I will bring my family home", he says. I try to believe him. Then we are seperated and he has to go. 

I feel nervous when I get rolled into the operation room. The lights are very garish. But the nurses also behave very considerate and encourage me. Then, the operation starts and I got anesthetized. Within seconds, I fall asleep. 

The doctors first bring the babies into the world. The boy, Andrij, is born first. His sister, Angelina, follows only moments later. Both are, thanks to God, alive and healthy. Andrij is a little bigger than his sister, 42cm and weighs around 2400g. His sister is 39cm big and weighs around 2200g. 

After they are cleaned and checked, Volodymyr has the chance to see his babies for the first time. He is truly overwhelmed and can't hold back his tears. "Gosh, they are so sweet", he tells the midwife. "Would you like to hold them?", she asks him. "Of course", he answers. "It would be great to make some skin contact with them. After a normal birth it's in the most cases the mother who welcomes them into the world. But until your wife is ready for that, you can take her role", the midwife explains. "Yes, of course, I can do that", Volodymyr says. "Then pull your shirt off and sit down this chair over there. I'll bring them to you and lay them on your chest. As they are twins, it would be perfect if you can hold them together", she instructs. Volodymyr follows and sits down the chair. The midwife brings him our miracles and lays them on the left and right side of his chest. Volodymyr protects them with his hands from falling. The midwife leaves him alone and he rests like this for a certain time. Enjoying the newborn life on his skin. He leans down to kiss both of them on their little heads. "Daddy loves you. And mommy will, too", he tells them as if they could understand.

"It feels incredible", he tells the midwife when she comes back. She nods and smiles. "May you take a photo for my wife?", he asks the midwife. "Of course", she answers and takes the photo. "Do you know how she's doing?", he then asks her. She shakes her head. "You have to ask one of the doctors later", she tells him.

Half an hour later, the twins are fallen asleep and are put back into their beds. Volodymyr immediately try to find out what happened to me in the meantime. Finally, he finds the senior physician that did the operation. 

"How's my wife?", Volodymyr asks him directly. "First of all, it's great that the twins are doing so well", Dr. Brink says. "Yes, I'm very glad about that. We have been very concerned a few hours ago. But what about Anna?", Volodymyr replies. "We could stop the blooding. Your wife had an uterine rupture. That was very dangerous for her and the babies. Mr. Zelenskyy, look, due to that, she has lost a lot of blood. A birth is always a very bloody event". 

"What are you trying to say me?", Volodymyr interrupts him. "That we had to put your wife into an artificial coma. She has better recovery chances in that state", Dr. Brink answers. "But she will wake up again?", Volodymyr asks concerned. "I'm pretty sure she will. There's always a risk, you know", the doctor says. Volodymyr nods. "How long do you expect it will take?". "That differs from case to case. But I hope that she's awake when the twins are ready to leave the hospital". The doctor pats Volodymyrs back. "The babies are alive and healthy. So, it could have been worse", he tells him.

But Volodymyr knows that against the promise he made, he has to return home without his family at first.