Meet Me in the Delivery Room

Meet Me in the Delivery Room

I promised to share the story of why I am the TRUE miracle baby in my family.  Sure, my mom says that each of us (as siblings) is a miracle, each in our own way.  But let’s be clear… I went from being “blue” to talking to you; and that is a miracle.  Here’s how it went down…

My mom had 3 C-sections before me, 1 with each of my siblings.  She really wanted to have that experience of birthing a child naturally.  So, she convinced a doctor to support her in that decision when I was born.  I’ll save all the tedious details and get right to the good stuff… I was born, just the way I should be!  J  They wrapped me up and put me on my mom’s chest so she could see me and hold me.  This was the part that she had been waiting all her life for…  But when they laid me on my mom and she started talking to me, she knew immediately that something was wrong.  “This baby is turning blue!’  She called to the doctor and nurses.  Instantly, the nurse snatched me from her and began rubbing me vigorously.  The doctor watched sideways for a moment, but not being pleased with the progress the nurse was making to get me to breath, she snatched me from the nurse and began suctioning my airways again.  Within mili-seconds, the hospital room door burst open and the neonatal intensive care team sprang into the room.  The better part of them went straight to a special table in the corner while one retrieved me from the doctor.

I heard my mom tell this story many times… And every time, I hear the panic in her voice as se describes the agony of helplessly watching a team of strangers working to save her child.  She describes the bartering she did in that moment with the Lord.  She asked Him to take her in my place if one was needed with Him and then she rethought that decision.  She told her Heavenly Father that I would need her here on earth and that He could take her legs or her arms or her sight and she would figure it out.  But she wanted to make sure I learned everything I needed to here on earth.  A loving Heavenly Father heard and answered her prayers.

It seems totally anti-climatic to admit that I had thick mucus plugs, which prevented me from breathing.  But it didn’t stop the neonatal intensive care team from intubating me and getting me cleared out.  A couple hours in the NICU and I was good to go.  The jury is still out on whether there was any lasting damage…  I’ll let you decide. ;)

No matter what you decide, I am and always will be the miracle baby in the Johanson Family.