and the world was a little bit brighter − 22 August, 1981
My mom loves to tell me the story of her pregnancy and my birth.
She never wanted a child. Her childhood was traumatic (if not horrific) by just about anyone's standards. That, of course, was back in the day that nobody talked about abuse and the numerous unhealthy family-induced atrocities we now have tighter laws against. She had been through so much her whole life...she couldn't see bring up a child in the dark world she knew all too much about. That is, until she met Johnathan.
His parents were child abusers, but my mom couldn't get the police to take her calls seriously. So instead of having him go straight home after school (she was his teacher), my mom allowed him to come to her house. She tutored him on his classwork and taught him how to make cookies, then she would reluctantly send him home every night. She calls him Johnny, I call him an angel. Without him, her interest in being a mother may not have ever been piqued.
She became pregnant soon after she began to wonder what being a mother would be like. I gave her a run for the money, too, because she began her motherly sacrifices very early. Bed rest is not made for the hyperactive...and yet, there she was, in bed for the last trimester and a half because I had sucked up all of her calcium (a fact in which I am proud; I can almost truthfully say that I'm just big-boned!).
A good way through my birth, my mom clinically died for 10 minutes. She suffered from Eclampsia (which nobody knew how to fix back then) and she flat-lined during the c-section. She tells me that she talked to Jesus in those 10 minutes. She told him that she didn't want to go back, that life was not worth living. She yearned to go Home. Then she heard my cry and someone telling her, "It's a girl." A girl? She remembered being a tiny, unprotected, unloved little girl. She had to come back if for no other reason than to protect me from the world.
She says that she can still remember being frightened to hold me - her little China doll. I had such fare skin that no matter how she held me, she left little red fingerprints. It was amazing to her that I didn't cry much and I instantly knew her touch in contrast to everyone else's. She made a covenant with me and God alone in her room - from that day forward, she would protect me and love me for as long as God granted her life.
My mom has stood by her covenant ever since. I am so thankful and so at awe at the extent my mother has gone to rescue and protect those she loves. She says that I'm her light in a dark world. I say that because of her, I know I will never be stuck in the darkness.
She never wanted a child. Her childhood was traumatic (if not horrific) by just about anyone's standards. That, of course, was back in the day that nobody talked about abuse and the numerous unhealthy family-induced atrocities we now have tighter laws against. She had been through so much her whole life...she couldn't see bring up a child in the dark world she knew all too much about. That is, until she met Johnathan.
His parents were child abusers, but my mom couldn't get the police to take her calls seriously. So instead of having him go straight home after school (she was his teacher), my mom allowed him to come to her house. She tutored him on his classwork and taught him how to make cookies, then she would reluctantly send him home every night. She calls him Johnny, I call him an angel. Without him, her interest in being a mother may not have ever been piqued.
She became pregnant soon after she began to wonder what being a mother would be like. I gave her a run for the money, too, because she began her motherly sacrifices very early. Bed rest is not made for the hyperactive...and yet, there she was, in bed for the last trimester and a half because I had sucked up all of her calcium (a fact in which I am proud; I can almost truthfully say that I'm just big-boned!).
A good way through my birth, my mom clinically died for 10 minutes. She suffered from Eclampsia (which nobody knew how to fix back then) and she flat-lined during the c-section. She tells me that she talked to Jesus in those 10 minutes. She told him that she didn't want to go back, that life was not worth living. She yearned to go Home. Then she heard my cry and someone telling her, "It's a girl." A girl? She remembered being a tiny, unprotected, unloved little girl. She had to come back if for no other reason than to protect me from the world.
She says that she can still remember being frightened to hold me - her little China doll. I had such fare skin that no matter how she held me, she left little red fingerprints. It was amazing to her that I didn't cry much and I instantly knew her touch in contrast to everyone else's. She made a covenant with me and God alone in her room - from that day forward, she would protect me and love me for as long as God granted her life.
My mom has stood by her covenant ever since. I am so thankful and so at awe at the extent my mother has gone to rescue and protect those she loves. She says that I'm her light in a dark world. I say that because of her, I know I will never be stuck in the darkness.
Me and Mom
Comments:
Aphelia (May 22, 2007. 06:13am)
This is absolutely beautiful. thank you so much for sharing it.
CrystallineTulip (May 22, 2007. 02:38pm)
Thanks. It's hard writing a tribute for someone without being really corny! =oP
kga245 (May 22, 2007. 05:56pm)
It wasn't corny at all. I'm always amazed at the extent of our experiences. Sometimes everyday life can be so extraordinary. Thanks for sharing.
edunn (May 23, 2007. 02:42am)
I love that your mom was so open with you and shared the story of her miricle. I can't believe some people never tell others how special they are. I am glad you know. :)
bmccosar (May 24, 2007. 04:55pm)
My wife's biological mother died during childbirth, from the same thing.
CrystallineTulip (May 24, 2007. 10:57pm)
It's strange what just a few years difference can make in the medical scene. Now doctors have ways to help people get around the complications of Eclampsia/Preeclampsia.
thewait07 (November 6, 2007. 10:14pm)
What a beautiful story. You chose her to be your mother and she came back to you to spend her life being your mom. Great story!
http://thewaitbook.blogspot.com