Englewood, FL
It was another chilly day. We only ventured out to Walmart to pick up
groceries and a couple of gifts to bring with us to Pinellas Park tomorrow when
we visit Monte’s daughter and grandsons.
In the afternoon, it had warmed up enough
for me to sit outside (bundled up) reading while Monte took apart a dish one
of the residents gave him for parts.
In the evening we watched, The Ultimate Life, a sequel to the
movie, The Ultimate Gift. Both movies are feel-good films leaving the
viewer smiling.
January 24th has significance to me because
it is my daughter Renee’s birthday. 35
years ago today I welcomed into the world one of the best persons I have ever
known. Now I know I may be a little
biased because she is my daughter, but anyone who has met Renee and knows her
would agree. One of her very best
qualities is her big heart and her capacity to love unconditionally.
Renee had a rough start in life being born 6 weeks
premature. Because the hospital she was
born in did not have the equipment to handle premature babies, she was
transferred to a nearby County Hospital that had an outstanding Neo-natal
wing. The first 48 hours were touch and
go and I was told by her doctor that it was literally in Gods’ hand.
I had to stay in
the hospital where I had given birth so I didn’t get to hold my baby. When I was discharged two days later I went
to the hospital where Renee was and was shocked to see how small she was. The prognosis was not good. BUT very shortly after I put my hand through
the opening in the isolette and took her tiny little hand in mine, her color
changed from a pasty grey to pink. Even
though it took a month for her to be well enough to come home, that moment had
been the turning point. Was it timing
or miracle?
Because she had been born early, her lungs had not been
fully mature, and as a consequence, she is an asthmatic. I remember many, many trips to the ER in the
middle of the night because she couldn’t breathe and years of driving to the
doctor’s office for weekly allergy shots.
But that didn’t stop her from participating in different activities
including baseball, soccer, Girl Scouts, dance and ROTC.
Renee was an absolute sweetie pie as a baby, then a
toddler and as a young girl. We had some
typical Mother/Daughter drama when she was a teenager but we got through
it.
My daughter has given me so much joy over the years and
eight years ago she doubled that joy by giving me twin granddaughters. I LOVE YOU RENEE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Picture taken on Renee's Birthday one year ago.
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