Chicago mother celebrates son's first birthday after 20 miscarriages and two infant losses
Ranim Haddad, 36, is celebrating her son Emmanuel's first birthday on October 1, 2025, after enduring 20 miscarriages, one stillbirth, and one infant death over 11 years. Despite exhaustive medical evaluations at Northwestern Memorial Hospital failing to identify a cause for her losses, Haddad persisted in trying to conceive. Her obstetrician, Dr. Susan Gerber, attributed her eventual success to her resilience rather than a specific medical intervention, noting that a cervical stitch used in her final pregnancy likely did not prevent the earlier first-trimester losses. Haddad, who lives in the Chicago suburbs, is now sharing her story to encourage other women facing repeated pregnancy loss to continue their efforts, despite the emotional and physical toll.
