One Night in New York

Chapter Twenty-One

One of the most precious moments in a mother's life is the first time she holds her baby. That was the moment her God-given gift was placed on her chest following a grueling delivery or c-section. Feeling their soft skin as you gently kiss their head, their attention drawn to the sound of your familiar and loving voice. You had wished for that day and that one specific moment, which would remain in your heart forever. But I never received it. I'd never know what that moment felt like. I'd have to forego one of the things I'd been looking forward to the most.

I don't recall much. All I remember is seeing spots all over the place, feeling confused, and then nothing. As I began to convulse, my eyes began to roll back. My baby was in distress, and I was living a nightmare that no mother or individual should have to go through in their lifetime. Liam later told me that I became very agitated before the episode because I didn't know where I was. As my eclampsia progressed, the doctor prescribed magnesium sulfate and Ativan.

Dr. Kennedy immediately wheeled me in to perform a c-section, so it was a race to get my baby out. Liam was not allowed in because it was deemed a medical emergency at the time. They escorted him to a waiting room, where he awaited word on what had happened to our baby and me. Dr. Kennedy was a remarkable woman, thinking quickly on her feet. She quickly delivered my baby via c-section and was able to control my blood pressure. They whisked them away after our baby was born to have tests run to ensure there were no other complications with them being in distress. Dr. Kennedy soon approached Liam and told him what had happened and whether or not our baby had survived.

Everything was a blur as I awoke in my room, still groggy and dazed. Liam was crying next to me, holding my hand. I lay perplexed because I felt different. I didn't feel my baby, only severe agonizing pain in my abdomen. I recall seeing Liam reach for the call button as a nurse rushed into my room. I noticed a faint outline of Dr. Kennedy following her. As the nurse administered pain medication, I felt a rushing sensation but no pain. Then I was out.

I lay in a drug-induced stupor for the next few hours, waking up as the pain returned. As I reached for his arm to stop him, Liam rushed to call the nurse again. Yes, I was in pain, but I also wanted to know what had happened. That mattered more than any discomfort I was feeling.

"Where is our baby," I asked in a foggy state, tears streaming down my cheek.

I had no idea what had happened at the time. Was our baby okay, and did they survive? Was I about to suffer another loss? Just as those thoughts entered my mind, Liam reached out and kissed my hand.

"She's fine, Natalie. She's in the nursery right now," Liam told me.

I quickly sat up, forgetting about the pain as I heard the news. "We had a girl?" I asked as my emotions were not able to be contained. I smiled, cried, and laughed, all at the same time.

"Yes, and she's beautiful," Liam stated as he began to weep.

"Babe, why are you crying? She's OK, and I'm OK."

"I thought I lost you, Natalie. I had never been so scared in my life, and then our baby showed signs that she was having a hard time. I couldn't be in there with you, or her," Liam explained.

My heart sank when I learned he had missed our daughter's arrival, but I quickly pulled myself together because knowing she was alive was the most important thing. I pressed the nurse call button and asked to see Nurse Amy.

There was soon a knock on the door, "Hey, you're up!" Nurse Amy said with excitement. "Do you need more medicine for the pain?"

"No, I'll be OK, for now. Can I please see my baby?" I asked.

"Yes, of course, I will go get her."

It would only be a few minutes before I heard another knock on the door. My nurse was wheeling in my baby in the little hospital bassinet. It was as if they had given me the best gift of all.