Ms. Harry was a beautiful, young woman in her mid-thirties or there about. She had seven children and she was pregnant with her eighth child. Ms. Harry had seven natural births, with no complication. In the olden days it was normal for a woman to have eight or ten children. My Grandmother Courtney Jack had fourteen children; which included three sets of twins.
It was in the early nineteen seventies (1970 s). I was seven years old, and my mother had passed away; while Ms Harry was pregnant with her eighth child. There were some pregnancy problems, nothing that adequate rest and a good diet could not deal with. It was expected to be just another normal delivery; as she had done seven times before. The little complications should not affect her ability to have a normal delivery.
The time came when Ms. Harry's pregnancy was at its full term, now it was time to do something she would have done several times. Give birth; but this time to her eighth child. The Midwife who was responsible for delivering Ms. Harry, baby, recognized some signs that alerted her of some complications in what should have been another normal delivery.
Ms. Harry's problems were outside the scope of training and ability of the Midwife to handle. The Midwife exercised due diligence, and summoned the doctor; whose training made him more equipped to deal with any such problems.
Upon arrival, the doctor examined Ms. Harry, he reviewed her vital signs, and he became quite concerned. The problem was critical, Ms. Harry's pre-delivery problems, have grown extremely worst. All through her pregnancy, her body was able to sustain two lives, Ms. Harry's life and the life of her unborn baby.
But now Ms. Harry's body will not be able to deal, with the stresses of child’s birth; not even a C-section (Cesarean section). Ms. Harry’s body will not be able to sustain two lives, and deal with the stresses of the surgical procedure.
The doctor knew, only one person will leave the Maternity ward alive. It was either the mother or the baby. How does he break this terrible news to an expectant mother? That she may be required, to instruct the doctor to kill the baby she borne and carried for nine months. A baby, she never knew but felt kicking and moving around in her womb.
There was only one way to do this and that was to be honest and frank, provide the expectant mother, with all the information you could and give her the ability to make an informed decision. In the doctor's mind, it was a foregone conclusion; a decision any normal thinking parents would make without any problem.
The doctor accompanied by the Midwife went to Ms. Harry's bedside; then he explained to Ms. Harry, the seriousness of her condition. He informed the anxious mother; her body will not be able to make it through; the stress of child’s-birth; neither surgical of natural. The baby has to die so she can live.
When Ms. Harry heard the awful news; her heart sank, sorrow replaced the expectation of new life that filled her eyes. Then a solitary tear slowly rolled from her eye, down upon her cheek. The mother of seven looked up at the doctor with weak eyes, trying extremely hard to fight back the tears, and at the same time battling with the pain in her broken body and her broken heart; a heart broken by the sad news, she just received.
When Ms. Harry received the bad news instantly her mind flashed back to all of her children. She saw the face of her oldest daughter Marcia; she knew Marcia has some challenges, challenges with time, she can help her deal with and overcome. She saw her little daughter Cleara and she knew exactly how to make Cleara laugh, and what was her favorite food.
She saw Blue and she knew she needed to be there, to help him keep all his energy in tack, she knew that Pojoe, was solid, but needed to learn, how to stand up for himself. Ms. Harry saw Trudy’s face and knew that girl has such potential, with a mother's help; there is nothing she could not accomplished.
She saw the face of her son: Joseph; Joe was only three years old; he was always clings to her everywhere she went, Joe needed her the most. Then she saw the vibrance of her youngest son Christopher, he was so young and innocent, how is he going to make it without her. Ms. Harry realized that her children have not yet begun to get to know, who their mother was.
Ms. Harry's mind went back to the birth of her first daughter Marcia. She was just a young insecure little girl; when she became pregnant with Marcia. She did not know what to expect and what the future held for her. But the helpless little baby girl brought such life, such love, hope and purpose to her life. With each child she gave birth to, her capacity to give and receive love grew. Each child brought new meaning, new purpose a brand-new reason for living; each child was a blessing. She loved all of her children; even the baby she has not yet met. Ms. Harry wished for a little girl, but now it did not matter.
It did not take long for Ms. Harry to understand the gravity of the situation. She had seven children all of whom needed her, no one knows her children like she knew them; no one can love her children, like she loves them; and no one will go the extra mile, to ensure their success like she will.
Ms. Harry was asked to carry the heaviest burden; no woman should ever be expected to bear, a burden; no one should ever be called upon to carry. To make a decision; no mother should ever be asked to make. However, this was her reality, a reality she could not run away from; a reality she must face head on, whether she wanted to or not, whether she was ready or not. In Ms. Harry’s mind there was only one decision she could make under such circumstances.
Ms. Harry, still a young woman; with many years of living ahead of her, she did not want to die, she was not ready to die and she was not prepared to die. What was she to do?
Ms. Harry looked up at the doctor with eyes weakened by sorrow and a heart heavy with agony, as she spoke slowly and clearly so there will be no misunderstanding, her simple request. Ms. Harry spoke, with a mournful cadence that reflected, the burden she bore. She said to the doctor: "Doctor, whatever you do, I beg you, please; don't let my baby die, don't let my baby die."
The doctor was shocked; at the reply that came from the delirious mother, maybe she did not understand the gravity of the situation; the doctor thought.
Doc. "Ms. Harry, you will be able to have more children in the future, but not this one.
Ms. Harry searching for words, to communicate the intent of her heart, she wanted her message to be as clearly as she possible could. She looked away from the doctor for a brief moment; she thought for a little while; then reestablished eye contact with the doctor, now with a voice broken by anguish and a heart burdened with grief, the stresses of her mind weaken her body and made speaking difficult.
Ms. Harry spoke with deliberation, she said, "Doctor, whatever you do, I beg you, please; don't let my baby die, don't let my baby die."
Once again, the doctor brought some already considered fact to Ms. Harry's attention, maybe she has not given this situation enough thought. The doctor said Ms. Harry, you have seven young children who needs you. Children who need their mother's care, guidance and love. Children who want to have their mother at their weddings, children who want their mother to play with their children.
Ms. Harry once again reiterated her desire to the doctor, she said; in the politest way a woman in such mental, physical anguish could say it. There was nothing new to her request to the doctor Mr. Harry's request to the doctor was simple, it was clear and it was deliberate. But this time she could not restrain the broken reservoirs, of tears that now flowed freely, tears that discolored her eyes and saturated her cheeks.
Although her tears flowed freely her voice were unbroken. It was important for Ms. Harry’s message to reach the doctor without any confusion or any misunderstanding. For the third time she said "Doctor, whatever you do, I beg you, please; don't let, my baby, die, don't let; my baby; die!" Then Ms. Harry turned her head away from the doctor; as if to punctuate her statement with seriousness.
By this time the doctor knew Ms. Harry had already thought about all of the factors surrounded her decision and was at peace with her choices. The doctor who was lost for words, nod his head to the Midwife, who witnessed the entire scene and was close to tears. Of all his years of practice he never seen anyone with such courage, one who was totally unprepared to, but was willing to face death so her unborn baby could live.
The doctor and the midwife began to work tirelessly to satisfy Ms. Harry's request. It was difficult for the doctor, who knew what was at stake. From that point forward only one kind and gentle voice was heard in the maternity room. That voice was the voice of the Doctor, requesting the midwife help when it was needed. However, the macho-confidence, that normally decorates his voice took its leave.
Although time was of the essence, and the doctor worked with urgency; every action was done with great care and precision. Then the silence of the maternity room was broken with a loud scream. A beautiful little baby girl was born. Instinctively, and without thinking; sensing the seriousness of the situation, the doctor immediately, places the crying baby on its mother's breast. This simple but careful act of humanity, caused the baby and its mother to bound even if it was only for a few seconds.
Ms. Harry heard the lively screams of her newborn baby, felt the warmth of her child's skin and the rapid beats of her little girl's heart. in that brief moment of bounding, Ms. Harry said a little prayer; she said "Lord, my only request of you is; you let each of my children know, I love all of them, and I would have given my life for anyone of them, not just only for my little Deedie." Then Ms. Harry took a deep breath, as she breathed in, her cheeks rose and a little smile erupted upon her face; then she closed her eyes and die.
By this time, the Midwife’s eyes were red from looking into the light, of the doctor’s head lamp. The doctor grind his teeth together; as he carefully removed the gloves from his hands. He threw the bloody gloves onto an unused table in the corner of the room; he slowly walked to the door, stood before the closed door for a brief moment, steered at the door, took two deep breath then he left the room.
Ms. Harry knew something most of us don't or did not know. it is not a mother's responsibility to destroy life but to ensure that life is preserved at all and or any cost.
If you were placed in Ms. Harry's condition, what would you have done?
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