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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Exhale (08/15/13)
Sally had been a labor and delivery nurse for years. She loved her job and could not think about doing anything else for a living. Once in a while, someone would ask “Do you remember any extra special deliveries?” Sally was quick to respond yes there was a delivery she would never forget.

Megan had been only seventeen years old, and in labor, when she came into Sally’s care one Christmas Eve afternoon. She assured Sally that she had been to every doctor’s appointment, had taken her vitamins and had not smoked or had any alcohol to drink while pregnant. She had made a mistake nine months ago by not using protection and the father of the baby had wanted her to have an abortion. She had known facing her senior year in high school while pregnant would be tough, but she prayed every night for help and she knew in her heart God would walk beside her every inch of the way.

After several unsuccessful interviews with adoption agencies, Megan had finally found a small Christian based company that made her feel at ease with her decision. She was not looking for monetary compensation for what she was doing. All she was looking to do was to find a couple who would be the best parents for the little life she was carrying. She felt strong in her thoughts and conviction to find just the right couple.

The first several couples Megan met disappointed her. One couple was rich and spoke only of the “things” they could provide for the baby, including the best nanny in town. Megan wanted the baby to have loving parents, not a nanny. Another couple already had three children, and Megan wanted so much to find a couple who had no children, and were waiting for their first chance to love a little one.

Shortly after Megan reached the sixth month in her pregnancy, the call she was waiting for finally came. The minute Megan met Bill and Gail Miller she knew this was the couple who would raise the baby. Bill was in banking and Gail was a school teacher. They both made it clear the minute this baby was born, they planned to have Gail stop teaching and become a full-time mom. They were warm and loving to each other, so Megan knew that was how they would be with their baby. Megan never referred to the baby as hers, she would always say ‘the baby”, but now she would refer to “the baby” as “Bill and Gail’s baby”. Her mind was made up.

Sally asked Megan “Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Megan said “No; that Bill and Gail had asked her if she would let it be a surprise and Megan was only happy to oblige. She told Sally she wanted the baby to be given directly to its mother so the bonding process could begin immediately after birth. Sally asked her if she wanted to see the baby or know the sex, but Megan quickly replied no, she had no need to know.

Bill and Gail arrived at the hospital shortly after Megan. She had wanted them there through the whole process. Megan appeared so at peace with her decision that she seemed to sail right through labor. At eleven-thirty Megan began to push. She was a strong seventeen year old so this part of labor went quickly. The room was full of anticipation and then came a large exhale followed by the loudest cry Sally ever heard. Jonathan Adam Miller made his presence known to the whole maternity ward. As Sally handed the baby to his mother she could hear Megan softly saying, “Thank you Lord for the gift you gave me to give to these wonderful parents.” As Sally looked at the clock to record the time of birth she realized the time was a minute after midnight Christmas morning. Indeed another special gift from God was born.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
08/22/13
This is a tough subject to write about, but you did it with aplomb. I loved how this story shows "that a choice" can mean to give the "conceived child" a life with parents of "choice."

This touched my heart, and I loved the ending. It made me smile through my tears.

God bless~
Brenda Rice
08/22/13
With tears flowing as I write, all I can say is this is one beautiful story. Well told and full of emotion, full of love and kindness.

Thanks.
Jan Ackerson
08/23/13
I have an adopted granddaughter, so I read your story with great interest.

I think it could be slightly improved with a bit more emotional content. It felt somewhat detached, and I'd have loved a few sentences showing what the birth mother and the adoptive parents were feeling.

Your story prompted me to say another prayer for my granddaughter's birth mother, who (as far as I know) does not have God in her life.
Bonnie Rose Hudson
08/23/13
Very touching! Well done!
Carolyn Ancell
08/27/13
Beautiful! As someone who works in health care, I find the MC's (a long-time labor and delivery nurse) descriptions and emotional reporting realistic and heart-warming. Thank you for telling this story.