Archive for January, 2003

“The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth.”
— Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh

The last six months have been tumultuous, to say the least. They have been a rollercoaster of excitement, despair, sadness, and complete, overwhelming joy. They have been full of life.

I think, having watched my sister give birth to Kooper, that I’ve been handed a new lease on life. I was witness to a miracle. I can’t explain it in any other way. I have such a new respect for women who give birth. I’ve always found them to be admirable. I think that being a parent is the toughest job in the world. But now…now I’ve seen it from another point of view. I watched a child emerge from deep within his mother to greet a whole new world.

My sister was amazing during her labor. It was hard labor for about 3 hours and during that time, she was valiant. She was brave. She didn’t ask for an epidural until she had about 15 minutes of labor left and she was so proud of herself for having a natural birth. It was important to her.

I comforted her for a time. I washed her face with a cool cloth, I talked to her in quiet tones, and I brushed her hair back from her hair. When labor really started, though, I was holding one leg while her husband held the other. I was on the front lines. I was watching Kooper emerge. I saw a little white spot at first and wasn’t sure what I was seeing. The doctor explained to us what was going on. Then I saw hair: a little tiny round circle of hair. I kept thinking that his head was too small. I was wondering if that’s really how babies are when they come out. Little did I realize that I was seeing about a tenth of his actually head.

When my sister actually started pushing, his head really came into view and I began to understand what I was witnessing.

I think I cried halfway through it. I was so overcome with the moment and what it all meant. I was overjoyed. I had never been prouder of my sister than at that moment.

Kooper arrived and the umbilical cord was cut. Willow , my 3 year old niece, joined me and we watched the placenta being delivered and the doctor explained it to both of us. It was just as much of a learning experience for me as it was for Willow. I think it was a joy for me to share that moment with her.

I can still smell that primal baby smell, sweet, tart, and spicy. It was the smell of a miracle.