May you stay forever young

May God bless and keep you always.

March 1994

Camille opened the bathroom door to find Julia, sobbing on the floor. Instantly, she felt her heart shatter into pieces. Camille hated to see her children in pain.

"Oh, sweetie." She whispered as she joined her daughter on the floor and pulled her in for a hug.

Julia buried her face into Camille's neck as she continued to cry. "I never wanted to disappoint you guys." She mumbled.

Camille sighed.

"Honey-"

"Mom, don't. I saw the look on Dad's face. He didn't have to say a word. His face said it all." Julia sobbed.

"Julia, look at me." Camille encouraged. But Julia wouldn't budge. Slowly, Camille lifted Julia's chin with her pointer finger.

"My beautiful baby girl. Your dad is in shock right now, we all are. But that does not mean that we love you any less. Nothing you could ever do would make us stop loving you, you are our world. Your dad will come around eventually, you've just got to give it some time." Camille explained.

When Julia had come home from Stanford for the weekend, Zeek and Camille knew something was up, but they figured it was something typical-boys, grades, stress. They certainly didn't even think of the possibility of their youngest daughter being pregnant and alone.

Julia Braverman was arguably the most level headed of Zeek and Camille's four children. She was focused, driven, smart, and determined. Although the youngest, Julia was the child they worried about the least, and everyone in the family knew she would succeed at whatever she put her mind to. But now, now she was standing in front of her parents, a scared eighteen year old girl, telling them she had messed up. Zeek knew he had to say something, but he couldn't find the words. It was all he could do to just stand and stare at Julia before she took off running.

Camille began to laugh softly as she shook her head. "Do you remember the story of your birth?"

Julia scoffed as a smile slowly but surely crept upon her face. "Oh God..."

"I had never seen so much rain in my entire life. I can still so vividly hear the 911 operator on the line. "Mr. Braverman, please wait for the paramedics, they are on their way!" And they did show up...thirty minutes after you were born. Your father was the very first person to hold you, and that will always be the proudest moment in his life."

"I'm going to do this mom. This baby isn't going to change my dreams. I'm going to finish college, and I'm going to go to law school, and I'm going to raise this baby. I'm going to do it mom." Julia declared, her voice strong and clear.

Camille smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. "I know you will. If anybody can do it all, it's you. My darling girl, you are the strongest woman I know, and I am so proud and so lucky to be your mother. I always have been, and I always will be. You're going to get through this, and I, your dad, your brothers and your sister are going to be there for you every step of the way. You're going to make one amazing mommy, Julia."

Julia smiled as she looked up at her mother. "I learned from the best."

October 1994

"Come on Julia, push, push! You're almost there!" The doctor yelled, trying to encourage Julia to continue working.

"I can't! I can't! Just please give me the drugs, I was so stupid to pass them up, I want drugs!" She cried, her body drenched in sweat as it worked in overtime to deliver her child. Camille stood up by her head, gripping her hand tightly.