How to Be Parents in Nine Months

Chapter 8 – Life Or Death

HOSPITAL

            I stirred slightly. Lifting my head up, and opening my eyes, the events of that day came flooding back to me. In 10 hours I had given birth to a baby girl, but a baby girl with heart trouble. I have ruined her life already, before she could even have a name. I looked next to me, and I saw Ben. He was sitting in a chair, with his head bowed, sort of in a praying position. He had fallen asleep praying.

            I swung my legs over the side of the bed, and I walked out of the room, but before I could go very far, Dr. Brady stopped me.

            "Oh god doctor. How is she!?" I asked, frantically searching his eyes for an answer. He smiled. Must be a good sign, I thought.

            "We had to give her surgery. Ben gave us permission. The surgery was a success, and she is almost as good as new. However, there might be a chance, sometime in the future, that your daughter will develop a bad case of asthma. It's just a guess, knowing her condition. But why don't you go and wake Ben up. You need to decide on a name."

            "How did you know he hadn't picked out one yet?" I asked, extremely curious.

            "Ben told me."

            "Gracious, how long have I been asleep!?"

            "A few hours." He winked, and walked into the nursery to get my daughter. I just loved to say that; my daughter. Mine and Ben's beautiful daughter. I loved her already, even though I haven't even seen her yet. By the time she was out, nurses and doctors were crowded around her.

            As fast as I could, and walked into my room, seeing Ben, who was already wide awake. As I was explaining everything Dr. Brady was telling me, he walked in, with my daughter in a rolling crib. My heart was trapped in my throat as I looked into her pretty blue eyes. She looks just like her mommy…I thought.

            Dr. Brady picked her up, and set her in my arms. Just then did I realize I was smiling. She smiled back. Now, I think I believe in love-at-first-sight more than ever, now.

            "Will you marry me?" Ben blurted.

            An alarm went off in my brain sending shivers down my body.

            "I love you, so much, Andie. And I swear I will do whatever it takes to make a life with you, for our daughter." Hope filled his eyes.

            Without thinking, I blurted out a yes. He smiled that award winning smile, and instead of shivers, warmth filled me up.

            "Speaking of which, we need to think of a name for this little thing." I said. We sat in thought, until finally, I spoke up.

            "How about Halle Melinda? Halle Melinda Barry." I chuckled. My daughter's name was Halle Barry.

            He gave a questioning look. "I hope you know you just named our daughter after Halle Barry." He smiled though, which meant he liked the name.

            "I know…it's nice. It flows. Besides, Halle Barry is an awesome actress. She has a great personality too."

            "Ok then. Halle Melinda Barry it is."