Tess recalls praying as a child, asking God for twins — and even thinking about triplets. Today, she reflects on those prayers as a mother of six, including a set of triplets.

“Imagine what would have happened if we had chosen abortion,” she says. “Our lives wouldn’t be what [it is] today. We just have the happiest, most fulfilled lives.”

Life growing up

Tess grew up along Australia’s Great Ocean Road in a close-knit family of four sisters. Life felt stable and grounded early on, shaped by frequent family gatherings and strong ties to her extended family.

That changed when she was just 4 years old and her father was diagnosed with cancer.

From that point on, she says much of her childhood was spent in hospitals, visiting him as he battled illness for years. When she was 9 years old, he passed away.

That loss became a turning point in her life, shaping the grief she would carry into her teenage years.

Navigating loss and uncertainty

After her father’s death, Tess struggled to process what had happened and felt increasingly disconnected from those around her.

“I felt strange … I hated having to tell people my dad has died,” she recalls. “I felt anger, so much so that this anger frightened me.” 

As she entered secondary school, her emotional world became even more complicated. She says a teacher once told her that people who die from illness were being punished by God.

“It just pushed me away from God,” she says.

From there, Tess entered a difficult season of adolescence marked by drinking, drugs, partying and developing an eating disorder. Beneath it all was a deeper sense of searching — trying to cope with grief she had never been able to process.

By 16 years old, things had reached a breaking point, and Tess moved out of her home. She worked to support herself and finish school independently, navigating adulthood and university life long before she felt ready for it.

Unexpectedly pregnant at 20

Eventually, Tess met Alex, who is now her husband, and their relationship quickly grew serious. She describes feeling an immediate sense of connection and familiarity, as though they were meant to be together.

But not long into their relationship, everything shifted. At just 20 years old, Tess discovered she was pregnant.

At the time, Tess says she and Alex were deeply immersed in New Age spirituality, a path they had both begun exploring together. Faith in Christianity had faded into the background, and she had not prayed to Jesus in years.

“I remember looking in the mirror after a shower and just feeling like there was life in my stomach … I had not prayed to Jesus in a long time, but I prayed out of fear, just asking if I was pregnant,” Tess says.

Shortly after, she went to the doctor and received confirmation that she was five weeks and five days pregnant before returning home to tell Alex.

“I looked at Alex and I said, ‘I’m pregnant’ … and he just smiled from ear to ear like it was the most beautiful thing,” Tess recalls. “I felt complete peace knowing that all would be fine because he was beside me.”

That moment brought relief, but uncertainty still remained. The couple had never discussed having children, and she says she was unsure how he would respond beyond that initial reaction.

Tess says she felt she needed to let Alex know that there were other options, including adoption and abortion. But he immediately shut them down.

“He said, ‘No, no, we will just have the baby,’” Tess recalls, “I was so glad about that, and he continued to tell me we would have the baby together.”

Together, they chose life.

Instead of fear, Tess felt reassured by Alex’s response. They then shared the news with both families, who were extremely supportive.

Early motherhood and faith

Halfway into her pregnancy, Tess says she and Alex gave their lives to Jesus.

“We got saved,” she says. “We realized that Jesus Christ was the truth … and our lives changed.”

At 20 years old, Tess gave birth to her son, Jeremy.

Tess says Jeremy’s arrival brought a sense of healing to both families, particularly her own, still grieving the loss of her father. Because they named him Jeremy after her late father, his birth carried special meaning for her family.

Over time, Tess and Alex built a life together and eventually got married. Their family continued to grow, and they welcomed their second son, Julian, in late 2019.

Discovering she was carrying triplets

A year later, Tess recalls a dream that stayed with both her and Alex. Jeremy was 5 at the time and Julian was 1 year old. During COVID, the family was traveling to stay with relatives as they were preparing to move states in search of more stability.

Tess says both she and Alex began having recurring dreams about a little girl who seemed to want to join their family. Though they agreed to wait until they were settled before having another child, Tess soon discovered she was already pregnant. Almost immediately, she became severely sick.

“I just had this overwhelming feeling that this baby was just taking everything from me. Reserves were being pulled from me, and I couldn’t understand it,” Tess recalls. 

At around 18 weeks pregnant, Tess says she was unbuckling Julian from his car seat when she felt movement high on one side of her ribs, then again on the other. The unusual sensation made her realize, for the first time, that she might be carrying twins.

At around 20 weeks, during an ultrasound, the technician noticed something unexpected.

Tess remembers the nurse counting during the scan before stopping and saying, “There’s two … you’ve got twins … Hold on … there’s definitely three babies in there.”

Tess and Alex were stunned.

The pregnancy brought immediate emotional and physical challenges. Medical appointments increased, discussions of risk began, and the weight of what lay ahead became overwhelming.

At one point, doctors discussed the possibility of reducing the pregnancy, but Tess and Alex made the firm decision to continue the pregnancy. 

Eventually, Tess welcomed triplets at 35 weeks — identical twin boys, Samuel and Elias, and a daughter, Indi.

All three were born safely, though Elias required breathing support at birth. After spending 11 days in special care, all three children came home.

Life instantly shifted from a family of four to a family of seven.

Pressure and another unexpected season

Raising five young children brought intense pressure. 

There were seasons of exhaustion, instability and emotional strain as financial challenges, shifting living arrangements and constantly changing routines tested both daily life and their marriage. Tess and Alex often leaned on family support to help carry the weight.

Tess says much of life became survival. 

“There [was] a lot of pressure … Your marriage goes on the back burner because you’re just making bottles, changing babies [and] feeding babies,” she says.

After the triplets, Tess says she and Alex felt they had reached capacity. Life was already full, demanding and stretched. So when Tess became pregnant again, the emotional weight felt heavy. 

Over time, though, her perspective shifted. Tess describes reaching a place of peace where she surrendered her fear and chose to move forward in faith. 

Five days before Tess turned 30 years old, she gave birth to her daughter, Polly.

However, the pregnancy came with serious complications. After birth, Tess says she faced significant medical challenges and nearly died from internal complications that had gone undetected during pregnancy. 

Life today

Now, at 31 years old, Tess is raising six children together with Alex in Australia. Through every stage, she says motherhood has shaped her life in ways she never expected.

“It’s the most completing, beautiful feeling … I have every child meant for me,” she says.

Looking ahead, she often thinks about the life they are building as a family.

“Can you imagine in 20 and 30 years’ time looking at who turns up to our Christmas table … all these children and grandchildren,” she says.

Alongside motherhood, Tess is now building her own creative path. Encouraged by Alex, who runs his own landscaping business, she is working toward launching her own jewelry brand.

As her beading work prepares to be displayed in her local art gallery — a lifelong dream of hers — Tess hopes to eventually sell her jewelry through the gallery as well.

“I feel like I’ve been through a lot, but it’s all to the glory of God,” Tess says.

Tess’ encouragement to those facing an unplanned pregnancy:

“You are given what you are given for a reason and for [a] purpose. You are given that because it is personal to you and for what you should be doing with your life and to trust in something bigger than what you can see.”

Written by Melina Nicole