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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-11-27, Page 33Page 0 Regional Value Spatter, November 27, 1985 By Jeri fink rian.was bora in the spring, when the birds were returning from the South. building nests for their young; when the air was sweet with the scent of pink magnolias; and gloriously colored tulips and yellow forsythia were everywhere. It had been a frigid winter, plagued by ice storms and record-breaking low temperatures. My pregnancy had been just as dreary. filled with the problems and fears that accompany any gestation that doesn't seem quite right Although 1 watched my diet carefully, 1 continued to gam weight. My obstetncian, Dr Gardner. monitored me closely because he sensed that I might become toxemic But the spring took away my doubts; there was new life outside -- and inside Talk of snow shovels and storm windows turned easily to conversations about flowers and cribs When my husband, Ricky, and I began to decorate our expected baby's room, we chose a bright -green carpet, circus wallpaper in a medley of delightful colors and an overhead light that looked like a balloon. 1 went into labor during one of David Frost's television interviews. When I called my obstetrician, he laughed and told me to sit back and enjoy the show. But when .he telephoned an hour later and found that 1 was milli in labor, he decided it was tittle for me toga to the hospital. "By tomorrow morning .we're going to have another baby," 1 said to Ricky. He smiled. We weren't in the frantic rush we had experienced when our first child, David, was born, three years earlier. There was a new excitement, the • knowledge that tomorrow our family would be complete. Because of my difficult pregnancy, Dr. Gardner decided to anesthetize me. Seven hours later. my baby was born. Brian was beautiful He had delicate. wispy features, satin -smooth skin anda tiny head covered lightly with fine brown hair We named him Bnan Michael. after Ricky's rather As I held him, 1 was filled with a sense of total contentment All the people 1 loved were around me, celebrating Brian's birth. While 1 was in the hospital, I completed the final stitches in a needlepoint family tree 1 was making tor my mother's 59th birthday 1 also made a more -Contemporary needlepoint wall hanging for Brian. His name and date of birth were permanently stitched on both: Brian Michael Fink, May 5, 1977. But there was something wrong, 1 sensed it almost from .the beginning. Even in. the hospital, Brian didn't eat: he woo quiet, withdrawn. "Some babies are like that," the nurses explained. "Especially when the mother has been anesthetized." 1 wasn't satisfied, so I spoke to the doctors. They checked and rechecked Brian. "He's fine," they said. "Don't worry . " Much later a prominent neonatologist told me that often a mother senses something is wrong with her baby long before there are any medical symptoms. "A kind of maternal instinct," he said. I didn't dwell on it. There were too many other things to do — mailing birth announcements, planning the briss (religious circumcision and subsequent party), making arrangements to bring Brian home — all the things that add to the excitement off birth. The day Brian came home, sunlight bounced off the tree and the sky was an incredible blue. Ricky strutted through the house, a smile in every word he spoke. Our son David inspected his new brother, fascinated by the tiny fingers and toes. I'm happy. My God, I've never been so happy?" I said to my father-in-law, who wore the same smile as his son. Six day later Brian was dead. it began the day before the party. 1 noticed spots on Brian's wrists and legs and my heart leaped. There was something wrong. Deep within me, beneath the exetnent, the plans and Celebrations, 1 had known all along. Brian was rushed to the hospital's neonatal intensive -care unit. Our pediatrician held him in his arms as a policeman sped us across the county with lights shining and siren blaring. A tiny oxygen mask covered Brian's face. Everything happened so quickly. Doctors, residents and interns surrounded Brian's tiny Please turn to page 23 LEGION SELLS SIX MILLION TULIP BULBS — The Roya cluded a massive campaign to sell 6 -million tulip bulbs their goal. Shown here (left to right) at a ceremonial tulip are: Nefherlands Ambassador Jan Breman; Jean Piggot, Honourable George Hess Minister of Veterans Affairs; I Canadian Legion's 60th Anniversary activities in - in commU‘rOes coast-to-coast. And, they reached , planting event at Ottawa's National War Memorial Chairman of the National Capital Commission; the and Legion Dominion President Steve Dunsdon. Fine apparel for ladies and gentlemen A Fine Selection of Ladies Winter Coats: Wool Tined Trenches by Aquascutum Irish Tweeds by 'Jimmy Hourihan' Dufflecoats by: ' Gloverall' And a full line of accessories to complete your wardrobe A GREAT SELECTION OF MENS TOPCOATS: Fine Wools & Tweeds by 'WARREN K. .COOK' All Weather Coats by Aquascutum A FuII Range of Quality Leather Coats & Jackets: by Jeno de Paris And of course mens gloves, scarves, hats, etc. dour dQ POW€RS Mrd. 434 Clcirence St. Downtown London 438-2411 un