Interview by Sophia Roman
For Dr Laetitia Booysen, motherhood came at a cost – through infertility, loss, sacrifice, and surrender. Yet in every step, God proved Himself faithful, gently rewriting her plans and showing her the eternal value of family. Her testimony is a beautiful picture of what it means to trust the Lord when His calling looks very different from the life you imagined.
Q. Laeticia, tell us about yourself
I am from the North West Province and have been married to my husband, Eswhin, for 19 years. Eswhin and I were best friends in our youth. We studied together at Potchefstroom University, now North-West University, and I was often his sounding board and listening ear. After we got married, we moved to Cape Town. I am now a stay-at-home mom, although that was never part of my original plan. My mother worked throughout my childhood, so that was the example I grew up with. I wanted to study, become an established scientist, and climb the career ladder. At the same time, I always knew I wanted to be a mother. Like many women, I believed I could do both.
Q. When did things begin to shift?
Everything changed when I faced the possibility that I might never have children. Until then, I had assumed I could have it all. Even before I was married, I used to say, “The doctor can rather tell me I have six months to live than tell me I can’t have children.” That is how deeply I wanted to be a mother. Seven months into our marriage, we decided to start a family. We were excited and expected it to happen quickly, but after many months with no pregnancy, I went to see the doctor. After tests, I was told I would need medical intervention if I wanted to conceive. That news shook me. At the time I was busy with my PhD and working in a demanding job as a pharmaceutical researcher at the CSIR. At first I resisted treatment because I felt I should simply trust God for a miracle. But as time passed and nothing happened, frustration set in. A dear friend helped me greatly when she said that taking treatment did not mean I lacked faith, just as taking heart medication does not mean you stop trusting God for healing. That gave me peace, but fertility treatment while doing a PhD, working, and carrying the emotional weight of it all was incredibly hard.
Q. What were you feeling during that time?
I struggled with feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and so many questions. What if I could not fall pregnant? What if I could not give my husband children? Eswhin said to me, “I did not marry you for children.” We agreed that we would become parents one way or another. If not biologically, then by opening our hearts and home to children who needed a family. I also realised that many of my struggles were deeply personal. I found myself saying to God, “I saved myself for marriage. I waited on You. I followed the manual, so to speak. Why is this happening?” Yet even in the questions, I still trusted Him.
Q. When did the miracle happen?
In the middle of my studies, I finally fell pregnant. I was overjoyed, and all I prayed for was a healthy baby. One night, while I was praying, worshipping, and thanking God for the pregnancy, I miscarried. We lost our baby that very night. The pain was overwhelming because the desire had been so deep. I was heartbroken, angry, and in disbelief. How could this happen while I was worshipping? Yet I still held on to hope. Four months later I fell pregnant again. I had almost completed my studies, and that was when I knew my focus had to shift. I wanted to be a mother. Not long afterwards, our daughter was born. She faced many challenges, and in the middle of all of that I still had a thesis to complete.
Q. The happy surprise
When our daughter, Eliana – meaning God has answered – was four months old, we received another surprise. I was pregnant again. Noah – meaning rest, faith – was on his way. It was a double blessing. I only completed my thesis after my son was born, and later published my paper in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. It was a proud moment to finish that season with two babies on my hip. But the transition was not easy. I had always been driven by goals and career ambitions.
Q. How did motherhood become a calling for you?
I took a step of faith and became a stay-at-home mom. That meant becoming fully dependent on my husband as our provider. We were not wealthy, and this was never a life of leisure. It was a sacrifice for both of us. My husband’s support meant everything. He adjusted, carried the load with me, and made it possible for me to focus on our family. Financially, it was not always easy, but God never failed us. A few months later my husband was promoted, and I felt the Lord reassuring me that we would be okay. Motherhood is a calling, and I see it that way. I knew I needed to lay down my own plans in order to focus on my children. For me, it was the right decision. It was worth the sacrifice of climbing the career ladder and earning more money. My greatest blessing has been being fully available and fully present for my children. That has been a gift from God. Four years later Ezra was born – God is my help – and four years after that we were blessed with our youngest, Laelah – beauty that shines in the darkness. Today we have a busy home with four children. Eswhin and I take our responsibility to train our children in the way they should go seriously. Teaching and modelling Biblical values is our calling as parents. For us, showing them the love of Jesus is everything. That is what will shape future generations.
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Date published: 07/05/2026
Feature images supplied from article
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