It was a week before she was due and her umbilical cord had detached from the placenta. Debbie was rushed into the delivery room for an emergency C-Section to get her out before she died. I made it to the hospital in time to throw on some scrubs and get next to Deb as the doctor started the procedure. It didn’t take long before the doctor was holding up a screaming little girl. She went immediately to the pediatrician who gave her oxygen while a nurse wrapped her up and off we went to the nursery area. We saw firsthand why the infant mortality rate in our country is the lowest in the world. That was 18 years ago.
I remember coming home later that night, emotionally and physically spent, sitting at the kitchen table next to our 15 year old son and saying, “I’ll be 60 years old when she graduates high school.” Graduation Day is May 12 this year. Where did 18 years go?
Now that screaming little girl who was fighting for life is about to grab life with both her hands and ride it for all its worth. Comfort zone has never meant much to her. She has climbed Independence Monument as well as 14-er’s. Re-roofed houses on Eleuthera Island. Performed at the Lincoln Center in New York. Celebrated and grieved. Grew and matured.
Raising another child at age 42 seemed like a daunting task at the time. Now it’s about over and I can’t believe it. Kayla will continue her journey into adulthood “on her own.” She is a confident young woman now, who makes good judgments, is hard working, compassionate to others and eager.
Watch out life! God speed, Kayla Marie.
Mike Berry is a Registered Representative offering securities through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Legacy Wealth Management, LLC and Cambridge are not affiliated. Cambridge does not offer tax advice.
Copyright ©2015 Mike Berry. All Rights reserved. Commercial copying, duplication or reproduction is prohibited.
