Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Love (04/27/06)
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TITLE: A Mother's Love | Previous Challenge Entry
By Courtney Hoffman
04/28/06 -
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Baby Sam stopped his whimpers as Sarah nestled her face into the downy fuzz on her newborn baby’s head. She smiled adoringly at the baby that she brought into this world only a few short hours ago.
AAHHH. Sarah breathed deeply. This was love. She had read books and heard stories about this “love at first sight” thing, but didn’t believe it was possible. Nothing could have prepared her for the tiny flutter in her stomach that she got every time she saw a picture of her un-born baby. She thought back to her last office visit 4 weeks ago.
It was a routine ultra sound. Sarah was 35 weeks pregnant, and she was at the Dr for one last look at her unborn bundle. The Dr called her afterwards and said, “I think everything looks good, but I want to check on a few things.” There was not even a twinge of fear in Sarah’s heart because she had seen her healthy baby many times before.
One week later Sarah was back for her scheduled test. After a few minutes, the nurse was done.
“Okay honey. That’s it. The bathroom is out the door and to your left.” Sarah left in such a hurry that she failed to notice the sad, hesitant look on the technician’s face.
Three weeks later Sarah was at the grocery store gathering food for Sunday dinner. She suddenly knew something was wrong. “Honey, I am at King Soopers, and my water just broke. Meet me at home. I will call the Dr and let him know that we are on our way.”
Everything from that moment on happened at lightening speed. Greg and Sarah sped to the hospital where they were greeted by security and a wheel chair. They were whisked upstairs to the maternity ward, and within 45 minutes Sarah had baby Samuel David in her arms.
“Isn’t he darling?” cooed Sarah. Greg muttered a few words and moved to put the camera away. He still hadn’t held the baby and the cigars that he had brought to celebrate the birth were still tucked in Greg’s duffle bag. It was then that she suggested he go get some coffee.
“Really honey, I will be alright. The coffee will clear your head, and when you come back, I know you will feel better. Look at him honey. He is so sweet and he is still our son.” Greg muttered a few more words and left the room.
So here she sat by herself. Sarah propped up Sam so that she could take a good look into his face. For the first time, she shed tears. The reason for the extra ultra-sound was now clear. The Dr had seen something in the facial shots that had alarmed him and he had wanted to investigate more extensively. The results had to be read by a specialist and since Sarah had her baby 2 weeks early, there had been no news of the results.
Samuel had been born with a severe cleft palate. The hole that was in his face extended from the end of his nose down to his chin. One could look inside and see the bones of his cheek and nose. The nurses had put on a temporary bandage, but a specialist was coming to talk with them in the morning to plot out their next step.
It was hard on everyone, especially Greg. This was not a son that he could be proud of. He needed time to deal with it. But for Sarah it was different. This was her son. She tried to explain it to her mother.
“Mom, you know how you are with your kids. They can do no wrong. They are your life. It doesn’t matter what they look like, or how they act. They are yours. That is how I feel. No matter what, he is my son. I love him.”
It was the same picture that Sarah painted in her mind when she thought of her Jesus. No matter how awful, rotten, ugly, or stained we are, Christ’s love for us is unconditional.
With those thoughts in mind, Sarah hugged her baby even closer. She leaned down and whispered in his ear, continuing her song. “Hush little baby, don’t you cry momma’s going to sing you a lullaby.”
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My only suggestion would be to either combine the second and and third paragraphs into one, or move the last sentence in paragraph two down to paragraph three. That might end any confusion of time and setting.
I would've liked to have seen more closure/info on the husband's reaction to his new son.
Very nicely done.
This little boy will do well, having such a mom to see him through the restorative surgery he has to endure. And, I'm sure the dad will come through, too, once his shock wears off! God bless you! Thanks for writing this.