Patrick & Nikka’s ‘rainbow baby’

In barely one month, Patrick Garcia’s wife Nikka Martinez will deliver their third child — yes, another girl!

The couple’s other daughters are Michelle and Patrice. “Every day there’s something new,” Patrick told Funfare. “There’s a lot of drama since our home is dominated by girls. Michelle, 4, is growing older, so she’s picky about the dresses she wears, the lipstick, the make-up. Si Patrice, one year old, wala pa masyado. But it’s all been fun.”

According to Nikka, had the child been a boy, she and Patrick would have been satisfied with just having three children.

“I think four is a good number,” Patrick said. “Nikka grew up by herself, and I grew up with one brother and one sister, so I think the more the merrier.”

The third is their “rainbow baby,” a term used to call a child that comes after a miscarriage.

“The miscarriage was painful to us,” admitted Patrick (who has a son with ex-girlfriend Jennylyn Mercado; Nikka and Jennylyn are friends). “The night before, I think she was bleeding. We didn’t want to give it much thought. We were alarmed, but we didn’t want to think it was something serious. The next day, there was still more bleeding, so we went to the hospital. The doctors told us that the baby had no more heartbeat. We were shocked because we didn’t know it would happen to us, but we had to move on from it.”

Nikka’s pregnancy happened a month after the miscarriage. “Even before we found out the gender, I just had a feeling that it was a girl,” said Nikka. “Whatever the Lord gives, I will accept and I will be happy, whether a boy or a girl. A baby is a blessing.”

The recent baby shower was hosted by Japanese stroller brand Aprica. On her eighth month, Nikka was glowing and pretty in pink. Patrick is a doting father and husband.

“I help Nikka any way I can, in whatever I can such as massaging her,” shared Patrick. “As a dad, I’m a spoiler, not much of a disciplinarian. I love my role. I didn’t know I would enjoy it so much. Sometimes, it’s a challenge. But seeing these kids grow up in front of my eyes is a treat.”

A prayerful and faithful couple, Patrick and Nikka have survived their own share of storms.

To couples who are going through their own storms or losses, Patrick said, “God has plans for everybody. At first, it will hurt so much, but prayers will ease the pain. You just have to trust Him. No (piece of) advice is good enough because no words can comfort them. In time, prayers will make the pain go away.”

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