When I was pregnant, I’d lie in bed at night and just pray that my baby would be born alive. Whatever else got thrown my way after she was born I could handle, right?
As I talk to parents of children of various ages, I realize the pleading and praying never stops. The worries will never stop. Once you get through one, something else comes up. Will she make the basketball team? Will she fall off of her bike? Will she be bullied on the bus? Will someone break her heart during college?
When my daughter was born, she had some tests done that came back with a less than favorable outcome. The repeat test showed the same, so her sample was sent out once again, this time for DNA testing. For the last three weeks as we’ve thought about these tests, I’ve tried to control the worry and fear by reassuring myself that no matter what, we will get through it. No matter what, she is my beautiful and lovely baby. Just get me through this one and I can certainly handle what’s next.
We got through it, thank God. But, it’s made me realize that parents don’t always get good news. Sometimes, they get news that changes their lives forever. I know- I’ve gotten news like that. The thought of getting it again was almost more than I could handle. As we cheered today that everything was going to be ok, I couldn’t help but think of the parents who wouldn’t get the good news we got, and it’s made me so incredibly thankful for what we have. From the agonizing heartbreak to the pinnacle of joy we’ve seen in the last five years, I am thankful for the journey.
Copyright 2014 Anne Mathay