Posted | Monday, March 03, 2003 | by Ron
I have a 15 year-old daughter.

I remember where I went the night before she was born. I bought a pair of shoes. Really ugly, really comfortable.

I remember Connie I and laying in bed the night prior to her birth. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

I acted like I was asleep.

Connie and child ... my family.

The doctors would give us no promises about the little baby who seemed to be 3-4 lbs at the most.

A planned c'section.

Stress tests eveyday other day for 2 weeks.

"Life-Flight" on stand by if need be.

All this I rememeber clearly.

The trip to the hospital ... Oberlin Ohio ...

Really cold out ... I heated up the car.

We checked in at the hospital.

The pastor prayed the prayer.

The nurses came.

IV

the masks

I walked next to the nurse as she pushed Connie to the room where the c-section would be performed.

I stayed with her. I remember being quiet.

The doctors came in.

And Connie counted backwords ... feel asleep.

The doctors asked me how I was doing ...

I was really concern. I was of no service to anyone.

I left the room ...

I looked through the glass.

I could see the life support ... a machine was breathing for Connie.

I stood back. I was completely alone. But not yet, alone.

The reality and magnitude of the moment became clear to me, but there was also a since that all was well.

The doctors were not telling jokes, no casual converstion.

8:30

8:31

8:32

8:33

"Mr. Flack ... would you like to come and see your baby daughter?"

Over 6 lbs.

I held her only briefly.

I gave her to the nurse. She seemed like she knew what to do with a new born.

I had no clue. And this "high risk" baby needed some attention. I handed her back.

The blanket they wrapped her in was so warm.

I did stay close by ... didn't let her out of my sight ... while the nurse had to work a little to clear her skin from the process.

The hat.

The warm blanket.

The pink card.

Then, she was ok.

I knew she was ok.

Me and baby were delivered to the room where they would bring Connie 30 long minutes later.

I just held her.

I held her up to Jesus.

I gave her to Jesus in that moment. I had nothing to offer her. I knew the one who gave her life could keep her much better than I could.

Though the "baby dedication service" was a few weeks later it was some place between 8:33 and 9:00am that morning when her life was commited to God.

I was alone with a baby I didn't know.

My wife who was my best friend, whom I knew well was not awake.

I was afraid.

I was not completely alone ... but I was alone.

I held the baby the entire time and a bond began to occur.

She, in that 30 min. period, was all the family I had.

I kept asking the nurse If Connie was awake.

She kept giving me the same answer.

And then they took me to see Connie.

Her first question was ... "does she have all her fingers and toes"

I said yes ... I didn't know.

She did.

We checked.

And now we were a family of 3.

I remember all that stuff. I remember it clearly.

I have no idea where the 15 years just went to.

Andrea Joy Flack

A gift from heaven.

Born on February 26