Saturday, August 18, 2007

Dearest God,

Baby Rylan was born today, five weeks early. His mother's womb simply could not hold him any longer. And he seemed ready to enter the world.

From his birth he had breathing problems so he and his mama were transported to a downtown hospital with a Newborn Intensive Care Unit. He was extremely ill by the time he arrived at the hospital. Whisked away by nurses and doctors working at the same time to save him, he was put on a ventilator.

I only got to see him for one minute, just long enough to touch his perfectly formed curly head. I love you, I told him and I sang a song just so he could hear. Then I was asked to leave.

His mother couldn't see him for 12 hours. She had to wait for the epidural to wear off so she could get into a wheelchair for the ride down to the NICU. So hard not to see your baby, then not be able to touch him for fear of agitating him, wearing him out.

It was a stress-filled time. A sad time. A time to celebrate his birth, but his poor condition didn't really allow for much celebration. Perhaps we'll celebrate later.

We pray
for our baby,
Lord.
He is so beautiful;
you've shaped
his little five pound body.
He wears signs
of you.
Prints,
your handprint
is all over him.
And if your print
is there,
then so is
your likeness.
He is your child too.
Please
make him well.

Love, Andrea