We've been excited to watch our neighbors (let's call them rick and sue) to the left go through their first pregnancy. We share a lot in common- both finishing our basements together, watching each other's dogs, and the husband is even attending the medical school I went to. Last weekend the wife went into labor. We waited each day to see the new baby come home and wish our congratulations...it seemed strange that we hadn't heard any news.
Finally, last night I ran into rick on my way in. "hey, what's the news?" "Well last friday we had a little boy - 7 lbs 4 ounces... "oh yeah, congrats!" I interjected. Rick continued, "yes, and, well, it looks like he's got down's syndrome" I paused, shocked. What next to say? What was coming out of my mouth was I'm so sorry - but that didn't sound right...I shouldn't be apologizing for his son's life! But it was still something unexpected. We talked for quite some time about the experience -
The most heartbreaking element was the experience they had with their doctor. After the delivery, rick was looking at their newborn son and could tell something didn't look right. The Obstetrician finished his work, glanced at the baby and just jetted from the delivery room without saying anything. Next the nurses left, handing the clearly unusual looking baby back to the parents, not saying anything.
Abandoned now, the silence of the unknown must have been unreal. Both rick and sue were left with their private thoughts, minds whirling at the unthinkable. Finally rick spoke - "are you thinking what I'm thinking." They called the nurses back in demanding information. The obstetrician never did come back in the rest of the day to talk.
We plan and dream out our details for the future- but really we never know what lies ahead. Their son is by no means a tragedy - it's just a shock. The blessings his little life will bring are not ones we spend time dreaming about, but will occur none-the-less
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