Four years ago today, Mommy would be in room 5 of Damai Specialist Centre, Luyang, getting prepped for your arrival. Daddy took a photo of Mommy just before going into the procedure room and said, “See? Beautiful even before delivery.”
At the last check-up before today, Dr Lim announced that you were a perfectly healthy, 3.2kg, just kicking and waiting to scream it out when you finally got here, baby girl.
Mommy sent text messages out to close friends and family to ask for prayers for a safe and uncomplicated, with an emphasis on the latter, delivery. Although Mommy had gone through a ceasarian birth three years prior, Mommy was nervous about the procedure. It is after all a surgical procedure, coming with it its own set of risks. More than anything, Mommy wanted you to be born safely.
When it was time, Mommy was still nervous. Daddy held Mommy’s hand and rubbed his thumb against Mommy’s. And Daddy prayed quietly while Dr Lim, the Anaesthetist and Aunty Kitty and her Nurses team busied themselves with their instruments and equipments. Doc then said, “Ready to receive your Baby?”
(Mommy wanted to say, “Are you kidding?! Don’t you know you don’t say these things to a woman having a Baby?!”)
“Yes, we are Doc.” said Mommy and Daddy nodded.
Doc then quietly went to work, the Lite & Easy station playing on the radio, occasionally giving out his instruction to the surgical team while chatting with the Anaesthetist about football . Once in a while, Daddy chipped in, and here were the Men talking about club standings and referees while carrying out the delicate procedure of lifting a baby out of Mommy’s womb.
Mommy felt cold in that operating room. The room was cold, the table that Mommy laid on was cold, the spinal block that had been administered to Mommy’s back felt cold.
And then, You came.
Not screaming, just a soft cry, but you were kicking.
Suddenly, it was no longer cold but this amazing feeling of warmth took over. Mommy felt warm on the cheeks and as Mommy looked at you, Mommy cried.
You were so beautiful and you still are.
Everyday since then Mommy celebrates you.
Happy Birthday my Baby Girl. Mommy loves you.