Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Fulfillment (04/06/06)
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TITLE: Diaries of Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cassie Memmer
04/11/06 -
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daughter, Claire! She’s a big, healthy baby,” I said to my long time patient as I laid the
new infant on Claire’s stomach. As I finished up the delivery, I thought back to the first
time I’d seen this patient.
We began the journey three years ago when she came into my office desperate for a
baby. Claire and Tom, married for seven years, were still childless. I ordered the
usual tests and found nothing wrong with either one so began Claire on clomiphene to
try to increase her chances of conceiving.
I continued that course of treatment, over time increasing it to the maximum dose. After
a year or so I added HCG injections. Another year later at the point of giving up, her
pregnancy test came back positive. I offered a quick prayer of thanks, entered the
exam room, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “We did it!” I said.
*****
Dr. Harris placed my newborn baby upon my belly. “She’s beautiful!” I cried as I
wrapped my arms about her for the first time. I studied her face, fingers, and toes, and
remembered the struggle it took to get her. The years of taking my temperature every
morning before letting my feet touch the floor. Waiting and watching for the dip in the
normal thermometer reading followed by a rise the next day. Holding my breath hoping
it would rise and remain high longer than two weeks.
It became a roller coaster ride. Emotions ascended through the five days of pills, then
on day seven a required seventy mile round-trip to get a fertility shot, then ever so
slowly we approached the crest of the hill, ever watchful of the temperature. We hoped,
lived, breathed at the mercy of the thermometer. Each time we expected the thrill;
each time the ride crashed with tears and a broken heart.
Once I was so certain I’d get pregnant I even crocheted a baby afghan. It didn’t
happen. What devastation! I angrily put the finished afghan away in the closet.
The very next cycle, after taking fertility drugs for over two years, the temperature went
up and stayed! Hallelujah! What joy embraced me when my test came back positive! I
left Dr. Harris’s office and drove to my husband’s place of work. I walked to the PA
system, pushed a button and announced to the whole plant, “Tom, you’re going to be a
daddy!”
No one would believe we were expecting. We’d been married over nine years. Even
my own mother had trouble believing the good news. But we were finally going to be
parents! “Thank You, Lord!”
*****
All finished, I took off my gloves and grinned as I approached Claire, Tom, and their new baby.
“Here, Dr. Harris,” Claire said to me, “hold Elizabeth while Tom takes your picture.”
I again took the little one in my arms and held her up. I smiled for the camera. “What
joy, Lord, that I get to be a part of bringing this, Your miracle of life, to these precious
people.”
The pictures taken, I gave Elizabeth back to her mother and with my heart full, I left the
room to go catch another miracle.
*****
I looked at the baby blue eyes of my daughter born to us two weeks after our tenth
wedding anniversary. I looked up and grinned at her daddy. “It was worth it all, wasn’t
it, Tom.” I looked back at our parcel of joy, I held her, studied her, nursed her, loved
her. Who can explain the wonder of holding your precious miracle child for the first
time? “Thank You, Lord. Thank You!”
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