My Newborn
By Miguel Vélez
ESL 0100
On March 28, 2000 at about 5:45, my wife was in the last days of her pregnancy. I was getting ready to go to work that morning, like a regular day in my life. I went into the bathroom to take a shower when I heard a scream, my wife said,” Honey I think it is time, the water broke!” I got out of the bathroom as fast as I could to help my wife. I never saw something like this in my life. I can’t describe the color of the water on the floor; my wife was standing in the middle of the bedroom overcome with panic and I became a little nervous. I took a breath of air to control myself. Quickly, I got the towels from the closet in our room and threw them on the floor to dry the water. Minutes later I was driving the car to the hospital where my wife and the baby could get more help. At 10:57 am the doctor was attending another delivery. Later the doctor examined my wife to see how much the cervix was open. “Not much” she mentioned. I saw the doctor’s face and I noticed she was worried. She whispered in my ear to come outside the room to explain what she was going to do to my wife and the baby. She explained me that the baby was having hard time breathing because the umbilical cord was around her neck and that both of them were in danger. I asked her what the best choice was in this case; the doctor suggested a C-Section. I just told her just to do the best for them.
The nurse prepared my wife for the C-Section and moved her to the operating room. I was next to her all the time, I never moved for a second. I was worried because my wife and the baby were in danger. At 11:35 am they applied the epidural injection on the back of her spinal to prevent pain. And also put on her face a mask with gas to make her sleepy. About 25: minutes later I heard a baby crying, Wow! Wow! “Is it a boy or a girl?” I asked the doctor, she responded it was a girl, a big and heavy, beautiful girl. Her weight was 10 pounds and one ounce, length 22 inches. Minutes later my wife was unconscious. The doctor quickly started finishing the surgery of C-Section. I was nervous; tears came out of my eyes. This feeling was unique. At that moment I thanked Lord for saving my wife and my new daughter Michelle Ruth’s life. Hours later, my wife was recovering and she asked me for her little girl.
Today Michelle Ruth is living a happy and healthy life with her two sisters, Jayana and Cristina, and her brother Pedro. I believe in God. I believe in Saint Michael Archangel, he is my devoted Angel. I named my daughter Michelle after him, and Ruth, after my mother.