Narrative: Final Paper

Gabrielle G.
February 25, 2009
4:45p.m.

How old were you when you had your first child? Do you have one yet? Well, I do and I’m not even out of high school. Having a child has turned my life upside down and backwards. When I first found that I was pregnant there was no doubt in my mind that I would keep the child but I had no idea of what I would be giving up. No more going out at night to movies, no spending time with friends after school. I spend my days changing dirty diapers and cleaning up puke.
It’s all worth it. When my daughter looks at me with those big brown eyes and smiles a smile that could make even Hades heart melt, I know that no matter how hard it gets for me the love my daughter and I share is worth every minute of it.
When I was five months along I went to the doctors to have an ultrasound to find the gender of my baby. Not only did it reveal that I was having a daughter but also that she had Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is where the spine doesn’t close all the way and a small membrane sack forms over the open area then sack fills with nerves and spinal fluid. This all forms within the first two weeks of conception.
Wednesday, February 18. My brother, Rickey, my mamma, my biological mom, and I walked into Utah Valley Hospital. I was anxious. Today we were going to find out if it was time for my daughter to be born. Because of her Spina Bifida she had to be born early and by cesarean section. Inside, they did amniocenteses to see if her lungs were ready; if they were she would be born the next day.
The test came back that her lungs were not ready so, we were told to come back in a week on the 25th for another test. Ironically, my Great Grandpa died that day from his lungs filling up with liquid. On the 25th I received another amnio and it came back that her lungs were ready but also that the sack was filled with fecal matter so we had to take her that day.
We had to be at University Hospital by two so we had three hours to get everything ready. First, I called her father and only got the answering machine. I left a message explaining to him why she was to be born that afternoon, what hospital it was at, and how she would be immediately be transported to Primary Children’s Hospital (which is in the same complex) to be treated for the Spina Bifida. While we were on our way to pick up my best friend, Katie, Gabby’s father text me back. He asked the same questions which I had already given him an answer to. Then he asked, “Do you want me to be there?” I remember being annoyed when I answered, “It’s your decision.” He responded, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it, I have work.” That’s the last I heard from him.
After we picked up Katie and gathered clothes from my house, we headed up to the hospital. On the way there my biological mom, Mandy, asked if I was okay. I said that I was because strangely enough, I was feeling rather calm the whole way there. Next thing I remember is filling out paperwork, being put into a wheelchair, and moved into the labor room. While we were waiting doctors explained about the epidural and various other shots they would be giving me. Also, more people showed up to wish me luck. When I left the room, there were nine people to see me off. None of which were the sperm donor.
The delivery room was white and cold looking. They had me lay down and role on my side for the numbing shots, then we waited for them to kick in. When it was time, they set up a green tarp to block my view and called for my papa to come in. He was who I wanted in the room during the delivery. I don’t remember much after that. From what my papa tells me, they had to fight to get Gabby out. She came out sitting up (she was breach) and that the doctor was still trying to cut the cord as they handed her off to a nurse to be taken to Primary Children’s.
Later that night, they brought my daughter into my room. She was in some sort of bubble thing which was meant to stop infection in the air from getting into the open wound on her back. I didn’t get to see her face that night, only her feet. I remember crying with joy when I touched her tiny feet and crying with an overwhelming sadness when they took her away.
What I learned from this experience is my family will always be there for me when I really need them. I also learned that giving birth to a child is one of the most wonderful things that could ever happen. Well, for me at least. I’ve also learned that I can’t always come first in my world anymore. My daughter, Gabby, does. She is the reason I’m still alive today. I love her and I won’t trade her for anything in the world.


Sena