Back to You

Ethan

Today is my meeting with the Bruins. I'm so excited to be here at their training facilities. They have taken me on a tour and introduced me to a few of the players that are around. The facilities are state of the art. There is a huge gym, indoor pool, recover spas plus the rink. I'm talking with the assistant coach and head physician at the moment organizing a time for my physical prior to the start of training. I can feel my phone buzz in my pocket but I don't answer it. After about another five minutes it rings again which I again ignore but this time as soon as it stops, it starts ringing again. It's up to the third call when I ask the coach to excuse me for a minute when I see that Alex is calling.

"Alex I'm kind of busy r....." I don't get to finish my sentence when he tells me something is wrong with Mia. I quickly turn to the doctor and coach and apologise that I need to get going as my pregnant girlfriend is being taken to hospital. They don't seem phased and tell me to call them when I have the time. I rush out of the arena and to my car. I still have Alex on the phone and start asking him questions about what's going on. All he knows is that Mia called Jake and something wasn't right so he rushed home and asked Alex to call me. I'm speeding through the streets trying to get to the apartment as quick as possible. I tried to call Jake but it goes straight to voicemail. Once I get into the apartment I can hear voices and screaming coming from upstairs. I race towards Mia's room and straight to her side when I see what's in front of me. There is blood all over the bed, and Mia is screaming in pain. The paramedics are putting all these monitors on her and look like they are inspecting her.

"I'm here Mia, I'm here" I grab here hand and kiss her forehead. "What's going on?" I ask one of the paramedics.

"She's in labour but we think that the placenta could have partially torn from the uterus which is the reason for all the blood. She's already too far dilated to get to the hospital so we have to deliver here." That's a lot of information to take in but the only thing that really registers is that they are delivering the baby and she's only 35 weeks along.

"It's that safe, she's only 35 weeks?" I ask "It's the best option for both of them" And that's where our conversation ends. He is now instructing Mia that she needs to push when she's having a contraction, but I keep thinking over his words, the best option for both of them. Does that mean that there is a chance that this might not go well. I don't know what I'd do it we lost the baby and I'm not sure how Mia would cope either. The pregnancy hasn't exactly been easy for her with everything going on.

Mia has been pushing for about 20 minutes now and I wonder why they didn't take her to the hospital, we would have been there by now. They say they can see the head and it will only be 1 more push. She's exhausted but has done so well. The pain hasn't eased up. She gives it her all with this push, I'm so proud of her. And then I hear it, I beautiful cry, I look at the paramedic and I see our baby, our beautiful baby, my heart skips a beat. They place the baby onto Mia's chest "It's a little girl" one of them says but I'm too enthralled with the little tiny human laying on Mia. I never though that love at first sight existed until this moment.

I look at Mia and she's already looking at me. I place a gentle kiss on her lips and then lean our foreheads together. "I love you Mia." the words come out, it just seems like the perfect time. I place another soft kiss on her lips. All of a sudden, there are monitors beeping and Mia's eyes close and her head falls back on the pillow behind her. After that everything is a blur. Jake and I are asked to leave the room, one of the paramedics follows us with my baby girl wrapped in a blanket. She gets me it sit on the couch and passes me the baby. She tells me that they are taking care of Mia and I need to be here for the baby. She places a mini oxygen mask over her face and tells me it's just for precaution as she is early. I can still hear the voices upstairs but can't make out what's going on.

I look down at the little girl in my arms. I can tell already that she has Mia's nose. She has a little bit of dark hair on her head but not much. She looks so small in my arms. I can't take my eyes off her. The paramedic tells me we need to head to the hospital. "What about Mia?" I ask "They are just getting her ready to transport too, she'll go straight into surgery to repair the bleed but we need to get this little one checked out by a pediatrician"

"I'll let the others know and we'll met you at the hospital. Mia will be fine, she's in good hands" Jake tries to reassure me. But neither of us really know what's happening upstairs. I reluctantly walk out of our apartment and into the waiting ambulance. I can see there is a second one waiting there for Mia.

We get to the hospital and are taken straight to the NIC Unit where a doctor comes in to check over our little girl. He says they she is doing well considering she is 5 weeks early, just need to keep up the oxygen and will probably have to stay in for a few weeks to make sure that there are no issues. I'm in separate room with my daughter in the NIC unit because I'm unable to stay in there with her. "How's Mia? Nobody will tell me anything" I ask as soon as I see them.

"Ella is trying to get an update. Once she knows more, she'll come let us know." Sienna answers as she walks towards me "Do you have a pic?". I pull out my phone and she bends down next to where I'm sitting and then turns to Alex "I want one. She's so cute" Alex just laughs.

Ella comes in about 5 minutes later to let us know that Mia is still in surgery. She had a lot of blood loss during the delivery and was in a serious condition when they arrived at the hospital as they couldn't control the bleeding. I look around the room at all my friend here with me. This should be a time to celebrate but how can't we when Mia is still in surgery. I feel a tear slowly roll down my cheek. She has to be okay; I don't know what I'll do if I lose her.