Story of Karla Perez, Baby Angel Appears in National Geographic

At first it seemed like nothing more than the worst headache she’d ever had.

So Karla Pérez—22 years old, the mother of three-year-old Genesis, and five months pregnant—went into her mother’s room to lie down, hoping it would pass.

But the pain got worse, and as she vomited off the side of the bed, she told her younger brother to call 911.

Karla's story is featured in the April issue of National Geographic. Reporter Robin Marantz Henig and photographer Lynn Johnson spent time with the Jimenez family and also spoke with Dr. Todd Lovgren and Dr. Tifany Somer-Shely for the story.