Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Bitter and Sweet (05/28/09)
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TITLE: Those She Left Behind | Previous Challenge Entry
By Nikki Raney
06/02/09 -
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Melissa was in the back seat of the car, as Joseph drove, excitedly, the 40 minutes it took to get to the hospital from their house. Melissa’s contractions had just begun a few hours ago, so they saw no need to hurry. However, things started taking a turn for the worse as they neared their destination. Melissa began bleeding, and the pain turned from tolerable to unbearable. Joseph called the hospital and explained what was happening. The nurse told Joseph where to enter, and that doctors would be waiting to meet them there. Joseph resorted to the emergency blinkers and drove like his wife and unborn baby’s lives depended on it. For all he knew, they did.
As promised, they were met at the door by two doctors and three nurses. Melissa was laid down on a bed and whisked through the doors leading to the maternity ward. Joseph was instructed to wait behind. Was this normal? Joseph made his way into the nearest waiting room. He begun to pray for the safety of his wife and unborn child. The next hour and 45 minutes ticked slowly and painfully by. ‘What is taking so long,’ he wondered.
Joseph was jarred from his thoughts as the doctor entered the waiting room. “Mr. Wilson?”
Already, he could tell by the look on the doctor’s face that something was wrong. “Yes, that’s me. My wife? How is she?”
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Wilson. Your wife suffered from a condition that can occur, and does, quite frequently, during the final months of pregnancy. If caught quickly enough, there is hope for survival. I’m afraid, however, this wasn’t caught in time. Your wife simply lost too much blood. She didn’t make it through the surgery.”
Joseph felt his knees give way as he hit the floor of the waiting room. How could this be? How could his wife be gone?
“Sir, would you like to know the condition of the baby?”
Oh, yes. Of course. The baby! “Please, did our baby survive? Tell me our baby survived,” he pleaded.
The look on the doctor’s face lightened slightly. “Well, what happened today, I’ve never seen before. Typically, the condition your wife suffered takes the lives of both mother and child.
However, we were able to save your baby. She will undergo further tests, and, of course, only time will tell if there is any brain damage due to lack of oxygen, but I think it’s safe to say you have a healthy baby girl.”
Girl? Did he say ‘healthy baby girl’?? “Please, can I see her?”
Joseph was led through the hallways and into the nursery, where a woman dressed in pink scrubs with blue ribbons placed, in his arms, the most beautiful human being he had ever laid eyes on, next to Melissa. He stared, in awe, at the only piece of his wife she had left behind. He was amazed at how much their baby looked like her. She simply took his breath away. He lowered his head and began to pray. He prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. After all, while God had taken his wife, He had left him with more than just memories of the love they shared. He left him with an amazing piece of proof. The beautiful result of the love, the prayers, the hopes and dreams that they’d built their marriage around. The beauty of his wife would now live on through the miracle she left behind.
*The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.* Job 1:21 KJV
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