Mom Who Couldn't Get Pregnant Has Had 16 Children in 13 Years and Says She Wants More

A couple tried their best to have a child, but despite all possible efforts, nothing seemed to work. Starting a family became an enormous challenge for them, and they were on the verge of giving up when they experienced something unbelievably heartwarming.

Have you ever found yourself praying and wishing for something with all your heart and soul? Often, the things we want the most might take a long time to come into play. Other times, we might see our most heartfelt wishes being delayed.

The waiting period might prolong for some people, testing their patience and changing them most unexpectedly. Sometimes, our prayers might get answered in ways we never thought possible. And that's what a couple experienced first-hand.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Patty and Carlos Hernandez's story is incredibly unique. They met at a church in Long Island, New York, in 2007 when Patty was 25 and Carlos was 24. It was love at first sight for the couple, and they forged a beautiful connection.

Shortly afterward, the couple realized they shared the same dream of starting a family and having children. Patty revealed:

"I knew he [Carlos] was the man I wanted to father my children."

AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE

However, it was easier said than done, and the couple from Charlotte, North Carolina, didn't know what fate had in store for them.

As a tribute to her hard-working husband and to show their endless devotion to Christ, the Hernandez couple named all their children with the letter "C."

The newlyweds tried to conceive for nearly two years, but their efforts came to no avail. Embracing parenthood became an insurmountable challenge for Patty and Carlos.

Their season of waiting brought along anxiety and trauma. Regarding her ordeal, Patty described:

"I had trouble getting pregnant with Carlos for almost two years. I guess my body wasn’t ready yet."

The couple was on the brink of losing hope and ending up in despair when the unthinkable happened.

A HEARTWARMING MIRACLE

They turned to God for help, and astonishingly enough, they experienced something miraculous. Patty explained:

"Then God did the miracle. We were asking God for a child and he just started giving us children. We started getting pregnant every three months."

The Hernandez's welcomed their first child, Carlos Junior, in 2008, after which Patty fell pregnant again within a few months. They're now a happy family with 16 children, which means Patty has spent more than a decade of her life pregnant.

The doting mom shared her motherhood experience in these words:

"I'm so happy when I'm pregnant. Around three months after I have a baby I usually get pregnant again."

But the couple, who have never used birth control, stated that they see every child as a blessing from God. Patty mentioned that she and her husband had left everything to God, and if He wished to give them more kids, they'd welcome them gladly.

WELCOMING THEIR 16TH BABY

Patty, from Guatemala, grew up with only two siblings and never envisioned having a huge brood. On the contrary, her husband, Carlos from El Salvador, had 11 siblings and was familiar with living in a large family.

The North Carolina mom's last pregnancy was the toughest, as her 16th child, Clayton, held on until 40-weeks, unlike her other 15 babies who came before 38-weeks. The couple welcomed baby Clayton in May 2021.

Managing 16 children is a cumbersome task, and the Hernandez couple knows the feeling quite well. The couple runs a cleaning company that helps them meet their daily expenses and provide for their large brood.

A BUSY HOUSEHOLD

Having so many children leads to never-ending housework, but Patty said she's training her older kids to help her. Often, the mom-of-16 is busy cleaning the house, washing clothes, and cooking, and while it does get stressful, she enjoys the experience. She confessed:

"It is a bit more stressful and difficult with a newborn. The babies are always crying and I have to take care of them. But it is a blessing, we enjoy it."

In January 2019, Patty gave a glimpse into her family's daily routine. They start their day at 8 a.m. when Patty makes breakfast for everyone. Afterward, the family practices Christian Devotional, where they pray, sing and read together.

HONORING DADDY CARLOS

As soon as the children go to school, Patty uses her free time to complete most tasks. When the school-going kids come back, she helps them with homework, after which the family eats dinner and goes to bed by 8:30 p.m.

Patty and Carlos have taught their children to be bilingual, with the father speaking Spanish and the mom adhering to English at home. While Patty works hard in the house and looks after the kids, Carlos handles outside work.

As a tribute to her hard-working husband and to show their endless devotion to Christ, the Hernandez couple named all their children with the letter "C."

16 AND COUNTING

Patty and Carlos's children range in ages between 12 and one. They are parents to six sons and ten daughters, and their family has three sets of twins: Carla and Caitlyn, 11, Calvin and Catherine, 7, and Caleb and Caroline, 4.

The rest of their children include Carlos Junior, 12, Christopher, 12, Cristian, 10, Celeste, 9, Cristina, 8, Caroll, 5, Camilla, 3, Charlotte, 2, Crystal, 1, and Clayton, who will turn 1 in May 2021.

Patty, 40, and Carlos, 39, live with their whopping 16 children in a five-bedroom house in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their home includes a nursery room with five cribs. The Hernandez family's story has been covered by media outlets like The Epoch Times and Daily Mirror.

BLESSED BEYOND MEASURES

In 2020, the couple revealed they spent $500 on groceries and diapers, and their 16-seater bus wasn't big enough to accommodate everyone. Even though a family with 16 kids is a big undertaking, Patty and Carlos count their blessings daily. Patty expressed:

"God has blessed us with all these kids. I know some people don't agree and there are nasty comments online but for us, it's a big blessing. If God wants us to have another child we will have another one."

Undoubtedly, the Hernandez family's story teaches us lessons in faith, love, and togetherness, and we hope Patty and Carlos continue to make many worthwhile memories with their children. Please share this story with your loved ones.