When pastors Sandy and Evan Wickham faced a medical crisis that threatened both mother and child, they entered a season marked by uncertainty, isolation and relentless prayer.
What followed, they later shared on the Heaven Meets Earth podcast hosted by Abigail Robertson and Ryan Bethea, was not a story of easy answers but one of divine comfort arriving at precisely the right moment.
An Impossible Medical Crossroad
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sandy became pregnant with the couple’s sixth child. What initially appeared to be a normal pregnancy quickly turned dangerous. She experienced prolonged bleeding and repeated hospital visits while the baby continued to grow and show signs of life.
Doctors warned that Sandy’s condition was deteriorating and that continuing the pregnancy could cost her life. Because of COVID restrictions, she endured much of this process alone, receiving blood transfusions and medical updates without her husband present. The emotional weight of facing such decisions in isolation compounded the physical toll.
Comfort in the Loneliest Moments
In the midst of fear and exhaustion, Sandy described experiencing profound comfort during one of her lowest moments outside the hospital. She said she felt deeply seen and understood at a time when words and explanations fell short. That moment, she explained, carried her through a season when hope felt fragile and distant.
Though the experience challenged her theological expectations, Sandy later reflected that suffering has a way of removing human control and creating space for God to draw near. Rather than answers, she said she was given peace.
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Prayer, Counsel and Community
As the situation worsened, the Wickhams sought guidance from trusted spiritual mentors and a small circle of believers. Together, they prayed, lamented and prepared their hearts for whatever outcome lay ahead. Doctors advised that a medical intervention might soon be unavoidable in order to save Sandy’s life.
The couple set a date while continuing to pray for God’s mercy. Each day became a careful balance of faith, vigilance and trust as Sandy’s health remained unstable.
A Moment of Unmistakable Timing
In what the Wickhams believe was a direct answer to prayer, the pregnancy ended naturally in the early hours of the very day a procedure had been scheduled. Sandy miscarried just as she arrived at the hospital, sparing her from further intervention and stabilizing her condition.
While the loss of their child brought deep grief, the couple expressed gratitude for God’s timing and protection. They described the moment as heartbreaking and merciful all at once.
Changed by Grace
Looking back, both Sandy and Evan say the experience reshaped how they lead, pray and walk with others through suffering. Sandy said it gave her a deeper understanding of spiritual motherhood and compassion, while Evan reflected on how the season expanded his understanding of faith beyond neat categories.
Their story does not present suffering as desirable or simple. Instead, it bears witness to a God who meets His people in pain, offers comfort in confusion and remains present when outcomes are uncertain.
In the end, the Wickhams say they were not left with all their questions answered. They were left with something better: the assurance that God was near, attentive and faithful even in the darkest hours.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
