Niklas was delivered by Caesarean section at 38 weeks born with his twin Noah. At the age of 2 months, Niklas got viral pneumonia for the first time, but it was able to heal quickly in the hospital. But that's when Niklas sounded like a steam locomotive breathing for the first time. At the age of 4 months, Niklas fell ill with the RSV virus, which severely narrowed the bronchi and had dramatic, life-threatening effects on Niklas. We had to give Niklas to the children's clinic and we prayed. As a family, we let the church pray for Niklas and called for prayer worldwide. I also regularly wrote calls to prayer in German and English on Facebook, which were then shared in Germany, America and Australia.

In the children's hospital in Hof he immediately got oxygen goggles and on the 3rd day he had to be intubated/ventilated. Since he almost died the following night in the Hofer Klinikum, Niklas was flown to Erlangen by helicopter on day 4 with ventilation. There he was connected to the heart-lung machine that same evening. The following day the heart threatened to be crushed by a hemorrhage. This bleeding was probably caused by the connection of the heart-lung machine, which was inserted through the carotid artery. A drain was then placed on the heart and thanks to prayers this bleeding was stopped and slowly reduced. This was followed by further drainages in the lung area.

Mucus had to be sucked out of the bronchi regularly when the machines sounded the alarm and could no longer work enough. The oxygen and carbon dioxide levels fluctuated constantly up and down. Every day it was a struggle for survival and if he gets enough oxygen... Due to the connection to the heart-lung machine, Niklas had to be given blood thinners, which had to be checked constantly. The heart-lung machine was powered by blood transfusions and platelets. This machine initially ran at the highest level and it kept Niklas alive. When Niklas woke up from the coma, I was allowed to move into a Ronald McDonald house with Noah. The twins were exclusively breastfed from birth. Through this situation I then continued to breastfeed Noah and for Niklas I pumped the breast milk and it was given to him through the stomach tube. It was also a struggle for breast milk but I made it. Since the whole hospital situation was a bit stressful for Noah, he went on a breastfeeding strike during the day and I was able to nurse him through the night. So I pumped for Niklas during the day and breastfed Noah through the night. The amount of breast milk that Niklas got through the nasogastric tube always had to be regulated up and down depending on his state of health, whether he had to spit up, etc... There was a milk kitchen for accepting breast milk, and there I had to have all meals pumped into bottles in advance for the next 24 hours by 8 a.m. every day and keep them in the fridge until they were delivered. Before I went to the Ronald McDonald House in Erlangen, I had frozen the bottles at home. Then I drove her to Erlangen every 2 days and I was able to get the breast milk "as breast milk transport" with the travel costs paid for by the health insurance company.

A number of dear siblings supported me on the constant trips to Erlangen. During the difficult time, I was accompanied by 2 hospital pastors, among others, who stood by Niklas' bed and prayed with me and gave me support. After about 2 months, Niklas could be weaned off the heart-lung machine. After another week he could be extubated and he could start breathing on his own again. Niklas then got an oxygen cannula to support him and continued to be fed via the stomach tube. During this time, Niklas suffered from epileptic seizures and had to be discontinued. Niklas was transferred from intensive care to the normal children's ward and from then on I was able to take Noah with me to Niklas and the two could have each other again. 2 weeks after the intensive care, Niklas was operated on. A special, very rare operation had to be carried out by specialists. There are probably only 2 such doctors in Europe. The doctor who was able to operate on Niklas was located directly in the hospital. Niklas had a very special arterial constriction. An artery from the heart constricted the trachea and esophagus. So part of the trachea and esophagus had to be operated out and the artery from the heart had to be moved to the right place. This operation went very well. Because of this operation, cardiac ultrasound checks are carried out at certain intervals in Erlangen.

This very moving time challenged the doctors and nurses and due to the rare heart defect I was allowed to speak to students in Erlangen in the large lecture hall. That was a special experience for me. I was also allowed to answer questions from the students over the microphone after I briefly told the story of Niklas. We were then discharged with a feeding tube. Swallowing, chewing, drinking, raising/holding heads had to be re-learned. Before each sounding, the position of the probe had to be checked. Applications for severe disability, care level, care service ran... Thank you Jesus for so many miracles and preservations After Niklas had survived the difficult surgery, a doctor came to me in the patient's room and said: "It's not normal that Niklas is doing so well. That is not a matter of course." On the 10th day after the tube, I was able to remove the gastric tube myself and breastfed Niklas FULLY again. I then breastfed the twins for a total of 20 months. thank you jesus that prudent medical care was available in good time. thank you jesus that the heart was not constricted by the blood. thank you jesus that he didn't suffocate. thank you jesus that he didn't die and did not suffer any serious disability. Niklas was able to catch up on his deficit in a short period of time, raise his head, drink, eat, chew, sit, crawl, stand, speak and walk.

Niklas received early support until he entered the crèche. Noah and Niklas had a promotion place there. A physiotherapist from the TPZ kindergarten, who read Niklas' doctor's report, introduced herself to me, wanted to make an appointment for the first consultation, saw Niklas - without me saying anything at all - sitting in the twin stroller and was amazed. She said: "I was expecting another child." Another teacher said: "You can no longer deny God" or another: "Yes, that's a miracle". Crib acclimatization: Already on the 3rd day we could order lunch. After a week they were able to stay for a nap in the afternoon. The acclimatization went so well that it exceeded all expectations. They were among the best eaters and the best and fastest sleepers. What a blessing. When he was about 2 years old, Niklas suddenly had paralysis in his eye and could no longer turn his eyes to the right or left properly. Again prayers were made for this and so Niklas also experienced healing from the paralysis in his eye. And now, after 5 years without seizures from epilepsy, Niklas no longer needs to take any medication. Thank you Jesus! 

Niklas Niklas has been attending the TPZ school for the disabled since September 2021. He continues to get his grants and he is in a class with only 9 children. Niklas gets along very well with the other children, similar to a family atmosphere. I see him there very happy and in good hands.