20 years ago today, listening to the sound of a helicopter land on the roof of the hospital where I lay on an operating table, the doctor pulled her from within me.
There would be none of those first, lusty newborn cries. There was only silence.
The "ooh" and "aahs" she should have been greeted with were replaced by hushed whispers in the corner of the room.
Helpless, with the doctor's hands still inside me, I carefully asked, "Why isn't my baby crying?"
I would spend the next 20 years asking "Why".
Why is she breathing when you said she never would?
Why is she celebrating her first birthday when you said she never would?
Why is she walking when you said she never would?
Why is she talking when you said she never would?
Why is she reading when you said she never would?
Why is she so happy when you said her life would be miserable?
Why has she been so wonderful for our family when you told us to hide her away?
Why do I feel so proud when you said she would be an embarrassment to our family?
Why does everyone who knows her smile when she is around?
Why does she find delight in even the smallest of life events?
Why do I find myself wiping tears of joy from my eyes on this day, 20 years later?
There would be none of those first, lusty newborn cries. There was only silence.
The "ooh" and "aahs" she should have been greeted with were replaced by hushed whispers in the corner of the room.
Helpless, with the doctor's hands still inside me, I carefully asked, "Why isn't my baby crying?"
I would spend the next 20 years asking "Why".
Why is she breathing when you said she never would?
Why is she celebrating her first birthday when you said she never would?
Why is she walking when you said she never would?
Why is she talking when you said she never would?
Why is she reading when you said she never would?
Why is she so happy when you said her life would be miserable?
Why has she been so wonderful for our family when you told us to hide her away?
Why do I feel so proud when you said she would be an embarrassment to our family?
Why does everyone who knows her smile when she is around?
Why does she find delight in even the smallest of life events?
Why do I find myself wiping tears of joy from my eyes on this day, 20 years later?
Twenty years?! That's a milestone! Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy 20th birthday, Angela!
ReplyDelete