Gordon

[shimmersong]

About six months ago, an old friend from my hometown contacted me, and we have been emailing each other pretty regularly, keeping each other updated on our lives. We couldn't be living more different lives right now - she married a Lutheran minister and lives in Texas, and has a little girl who is close to two, and has had another baby on the way

Comments

[whiteotter]

Yeah, that's got to be one of the most terrifying situations. I can't even imagine the fear she's going through right now. I'll keep him in my thoughts today.

A good friend of mine back in Gainesville had a similar experience when she had her first child: there was a complication while she was in labor with her midwife. They rushed her to Shands Hospital and found that her baby had a misfunctioning heart valve, so she had to go through immediate intensive surgery *before she was born* - and she survived, but they didn't know whether she would have problems or not. Fortunately she was just fine, thank God, and Amy now has two beautiful, healthy children with her husband Steve. But it was a terrifying experience for her, and she really leaned on her friends and family during that time. I'm sure your friend really, really appreciates your support right now.

I hope all goes well with Gordon and your friend.

[shimmersong]

Thanks so much for the support. My sister, who is a NICU nurse, says that with birth being such a tenuous event, it's amazing things actually do go right a majority of the time. I read recently in an article that part of the mystery of birth is that, in a way, birth and death are incredibly close - the event of giving birth is just so dangerous and so intense. And yet, totally necessary and something we've been doing forever. I'll let you know how things go with Gordon's surgery - thanks for the good thoughts. I hope all goes well, too.

[blackwiidow]

I will definitely keep him and your friend and her husband and their other child in my prayers.

One of my best friends is a neonatal nurse, and some of the stuff she's told me over the years is heartbreaking, but some of it is also very hopeful and even miraculous. Just watching that same friend give birth last July (I was in the delivery room) was both an amazing and terrifying experience, and completely renewed my respect for mothers (and fathers) everywhere.

Please keep us updated on little Gordon; I'm sending every good vibe, thought and prayer I have for a healthy, speedy recovery.

[shimmersong]

Thanks for much for the prayers and good thoughts. I know that my friend and her husband, being so close to their church, are receiving incredible amounts of support and prayer. I really do believe that it helps to have so many people hoping for Gordon's quick and safe recovery. I'll definitely keep you updated.

I was present when my sister gave birth to my niece. It was amazing - she was born only twenty minutes after we got into the delivery room, which was too quick for an epidural. I was only nineteen at the time, and a nurse jokingly told my mom that witnessing birth at my age made for "excellent birth control." Of course, now I can't wait to have kids - the thought of going through that, though, still makes me incredibly nervous. Hopefully I'll be ready for it when that time comes.

[alichacco]

Hello! I came accross your LJ in the Teachers College LJ Community. I went to Berkeley as well and will be starting at TC this July. What program are you in? I'm in Elementary/Childhood Education (Pre-service). Well I look forward to hearing from you. Feel free to leave a comment on my LJ, IM me, or send me an e-mail. Thanks!