Traumatic Birth

46 years ago today, in what was a small town at that time, a young woman, age 18, screamed that she was losing her baby. It was too soon for her baby to be born. Her husband rushed her to the hospital, where shortly after, gave birth to her first and only child. Doctors said there was no hope for this baby. He weighed 2 lbs 14 ozs and was 12 inches long. Two Priests came to baptize this baby.

45 days later, the young parents took their baby home. He was fat and healthy.

46 years later, this baby is once again fighting for his life. His once young mother has passed away from a horrible disease that robbed her of everything. This once young mother passed this disease on to her own baby. No one knew 46 years ago that this is what would happen. No one knew that "the curse" would strike again.

This morning I am thinking about all those years ago, when this baby came into the world. How grateful his parents were to the Doctors and Nurses that saved his life. How they looked to the future with such hope and happiness. How they loved this tiny baby and vowed to give him a wonderful life.

But, it was not to be. A young woman was struck down with what her family called, "the curse", and this monster was brewing in her child, waiting like a thief in the night, to strike her child. And strike it did.

As I type these words, I feel a sadness for all that was and is lost. No, it's not fair, but it is what it is. A year from today he may be gone. What a statement. And that little baby, the one who Doctors and Nurses fought to save his life, will once again fight for his life. Only, this time, he will loose.