A Bump in the Road.
When we made our decision to love and keep our unexpected child that day in the doctors office, we had of course, no inkling of how much this child would ultimately alter and enrich us. It was to us at the time just a ‘bump in the road’ and we would adjust and go on wtih our family. Soon we would meet face to face and that was that. No big deal. We did not know that January day in 1978 that we were about to be changed very deeply, and in so many ways. At the time, we could not even start to imagine anything unusual happening. Looking back now, I can see that the commitment we made that day, was a decision that changed the course of our lives. It was not a ‘bump in the road’ it was a major life-changing detour. But even so, with that decision behind us, the ‘growing’ in our lives was beginning.
At Last We Meet.
“Mr. Walker… Mr. Jim Walker!” The gentle, but professional sounding voice of the maternity room nurse had interrupted my focus on the television in the waiting room. “You have a beautiful baby girl, Mr. Walker,” she gushed, with an excited smile. “Would you like to come meet her?”
It was August 25, 1978, my wife’s 34th birthday. I was feeling a little unprepared, since this baby, our third child, was not expected for at least another three weeks.
Rubbing my eyes, I walked into the half-darkened recovery room and the first thing I saw was Renée’s beaming smile. She has a very radiant smile, a way of smiling with her entire heart and soul, and this time she was lighting up the room.
I looked beside her on the gurney and saw a beautiful little red faced girl with the biggest dimples. She had worked one arm free and was waving it in my direction as if to say ‘come closer dad.’ Instinctively I reached out for her hand and she instantly grabbed my finger with a fierce grip. Over the years that first touch has stayed with me and I tenderly cherish that moment.
The watching nurses murmured in the background. “Wow! Look at that grip. She sure knows her daddy!”
A Whirlwind of Excitement.
The next few days were a whirlwind of new born activity. Friends and relatives came to visit, admiring our new little one. Renée was beaming proudly, as our two other children, Jamie, age ten, and Jon, age seven, met her for the first time. It was another precious moment.
I remember going to the department store and finding a beautiful new night gown and robe for Renée. Excitedly, I rushed down to the hospital on my lunch hour to surprise her with it. To my disappointment, she was gone from her room. “Having a bath,” I was told and so I took the gown and robe out of the box and laid it out across her bed and then rushed back to work.
Later that afternoon, I got an excited call from Renée, “The robe and nightgown are perfect!” she said, “I Love them! Thank you! I love you!” I could feel her love coming through the phone. I didn’t know it then… but her next phone call would be very different.
Next Week: ‘The Adventures Begin.’
I will continue to share the answers to the question “What happened to Jessica?” every Monday in the weeks ahead. When I have received sufficient feedback and questions, I will add a Thursday episode, as needed, to this blog focused on answering your questions and comments. Thanks for your interest.
