The Birth of a Special 6/18/2008

It was a restless night, as is apropos for any full term Momma who knows her baby would be born imminently. Due to a diagnosis of trisomy 18/Edwards Syndrome this was  life and death. Dante’ and  I arrived at the hospital before sunrise, to begin induction. I focused singularly on a miracle. It would take 15 hours to fully unravel.

I noticed the verse, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen” over the doctor’s shoulder as he conducted his examination. From the onset, Carly was uncomfortable, the bells and alarms  of the medical equipment would become commonplace. Within seconds of their sounding, my nurse would enter the room and bring order to the chaos. She would reposition me, or increase  my  oxygen intake,  bringing relief to my precious one.

As the rollercoaster,  marathon (not a sprint) reality sunk in,  I requested a  15 minute reboot. I could sense relief, like a warm facecloth press into the status quo. I had the chance to meet up with the prayer team. Susan Alberti and Rose Britton had called me the night before to say they would arrive at the hospital, and pray, and stay… as long as it took.  They assembled a small army as supernatural support. Joining hands in their rather large circle was an amazing boost. I returned to the room.

Labor progressed quite well for several hours. My hospital room was quiet, and filled with family members. Peggy would rub my feet, Elizabeth intensely monitored Carly’s heart rate. My mom and mother-in-law waited patiently…for hours, and hours.  The intercessors would come in and share verses and encouragement. The buzzers would sound, sporadically, the dance with the nurses continued.

There was a shift change and the doctor broke my water. This proved a dire turn of events for Carly. Something about the loss of all that amniotic fluid accentuated her anguish. With tears in her eyes, the nurse told me  quite earnestly Carly would not make it if we continued in this manner.

The petosin drip was silenced. I requested a c-section. Carly perked up, relived that the contractions had slowed. The anesthesiologist was the next doctor I anticipated, instead my OB entered, “The C-section poses risk for you. I do not understand this decision. You will only have time to bond and say goodbye. She will die.” My spirit was screaming, “WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE eventually!!!!,” but my lips simply asked for my options. He responded I could go back on the medicine. “No, that is not an option,”  was my response, “Her heart can not take it. My body is not ready to have her, and I have been here for 14 hours. It is time for a C-section!”

Kathryn and Janae came in from their refuge at Aunt Barbara’s and Uncle Ron’s. I was prepped, Dante’ was scrubbed and gowned. The anesthesiologist spoke kindly to me in an almost whisper. The marathon’s finish line was quickly approaching. I heard the wondrous sound of her first cry…..tears fell from my eyes….the apgar score was high…she was doing well…Welcome to the world beautiful miracle…. Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!