I know that not everyone will agree, and some may not have had great experiences with midwives or medical personnel. ..but as a midwife, I have shed many more tears than I ever thought a midwife would doing this job
When it was decided that the doctors would not treat Andrew, the nurses removed all the tubes attached to Andrew's little body. They were getting ready for Andrew's baptism or dedication. I am sure it was not an easy job for them. They were comforting me at the same time.
Today, I learn another baby with Andrew's syndrome had died, and I had to invite the parents to join the Angels of Campomelic Displasia.
Prunus campanulata is a species of cherry native to Taiwan, widely grown as an ornamental tree, and a symbol of Nago, Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. It is variously known in English as the Taiwan cherry,[3] Formosan cherry, or bellflower cherry.
I
used to mistake this for the Sakura cherry tree. They lined on both
sides of Balmoral road where I used to live before Andrew was born, and
later when we came back to live after 16 years in Singapore.
In 1989, the word Campomelic came to my vocabulary. It was the syndrome that Andrew had and killed him. Campanulata
makes me think of that word. The Campanulata cherry blooms ahead of
the Sakura, then very quickly the flowers drop and fade away.
This is the time when the Campanulata
cherry blooms are most pretty. At the time, at Andrew's birthday,
Balmoral road would be one scarlet hue. Then on his death anniversary
in November, the trees would be bare. Empty like my arms.
Next month would be Andrew's birthday, This TVNZ documentary was made for
Baby
Loss Awareness Week. I remember the interview I
did for the Television
documentary," It is ok to cry." Here I am, telling myself it is
OK to
cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZk9w-uywAs&feature=youtu.be
