Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine” (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (01/03/08)
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TITLE: Zest For Living | Previous Challenge Entry
By Noreen Ophoff
01/10/08 -
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NAME: Baby Doman
FACTS: Pregnant with her second child, Lisa Doman, is given a choice by her physician: Try a normal delivery this time or have a repeat Caesarean-section.
The birth of Lisa and Ed’s first child, daughter, Lark, three and a half years ago, was a frightful ordeal. Lisa’s water broke Friday night, but she didn’t go into labor. In the hospital Saturday morning nurses hooked her up to two monitors – one for the baby’s heart rate, one for her contractions, then they began the IV to induce labor.
She and Ed waited. It was a beautiful June day of blue sky and sunshine. They waited. Labor did not begin. The contractions she had, did show on the monitor as weak little signals, but Lisa felt nothing. They waited the whole day, and into the night. Fourteen hours they waited, until at nearly 11:00 p.m., the baby’s heart stopped beating and Lisa became hysterical. Doctors and nurses rushed to her room to see the monitor at zero, then slowly the little heart started beating. Again it plummeted. Lisa was immediately taken for an emergency Caesarean Section.
In literally minutes Lisa was arching her back for the spinal block, then a moment later she heard the strong cry of the healthy, perfect baby girl, Lark Elizabeth, 7 pounds 3 ounces and 19 inches long. She had brown hair and deep, dark blue eyes.
Lisa, and then Ed, fell in love with their daughter. She went everywhere with her Daddy, even as a baby. He took her to the store, to visit friends, to run errands. Lisa enjoyed a little time at home alone during their excursions, but longed for those little arms to circle her in hugs again. Lark was always ready to go for a walk with Mommy or play their special games.
Three years passed swiftly and Lisa was expecting a Christmas baby. She decided on a repeat C-section because she knew what to expect. Her doctor didn’t know why she hadn’t gone into labor before.
In the operating room, Lisa lay with an IV in her left arm, a blood pressure cuff on her right arm. Doctor Race began the incision and then suddenly he and the residents and nurses all turned their bodies at strange angles to Lisa’s body, in almost military precision. They had all been perpendicular, but then, they turned their backs toward Lisa’s face.
She asked, “Why did everyone just turn like that?”
Dr. Race replied, “Just a minute.” Then in about one minute he said, “Lisa, look up.”
Lisa’s gaze went to the top of the blocking drape and she saw her baby – not crying, but cooing. Another healthy, perfect, baby girl, Chloe Joy.
In recovery, Dr. Race came in to tell what had happened. After he had made the incision through Lisa’s skin, he saw the former incision from baby Lark had stretched paper thin in several places with baby Chloe. The old incision was fibers with transparent tissue between them. Chloe was a bigger baby at 8 pounds 2 ounces, and 22 inches long. The doctors and nurses could see baby Chloe through that stretched incision.
Gently Dr. Race took Lisa’s hand and spoke, “Lisa, if you had gone into labor, that old incision would have ruptured and the baby would have drowned in the blood. You would have bled to death in about two minutes. You wouldn’t have had enough time to even call for help.”
Tears filled the eyes of each of them, and Dr. Race continued, “The hand of God was in your decision to have a repeat C-section. The Lord of Life certainly has wonderful plans for you two who are now alive.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chloe and her sister, Lark, are all grown up now. Lark is married to Joe and they have two children, daughter, Kia, 4, and son, Caleb, 18 months. In February they are expecting identical twins, but they want to be surprised, so they don’t know if they are having boys or girls.
Chloe works at an adoption agency and is in college studying graphic arts. She has a stunning singing voice, a compassionate heart, is a talented artist, and has an unmatched zest for living!
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