I'm new to the blogging world and my husband tends to be the savvy one with the computer, so please forgive me as I straighten this out because, truth is, this blog and sharing my brother's story is really important to me. In summary, he has severe cerebral palsy although my mother would rather it be diagnosed as severe brain trauma. The blogs will be about my role as a sister to Hunter. The older stories may be a little foggy on the details but I will try my best. I guess we all have to start somewhere!
My brother, Hunter is 14 years old. I am twelve years his senior and I have two other brothers (three and six years older than Hunter) as well. I remember finding out my mom was pregnant and thinking, "Finally the opportunity for a sister!" and I remember my little league cheer leading coach getting mad at my mom for demonstrating a simple stunt just before sharing her special condition. I guess I always assumed it was my mom's three year itch to have another child- of course I credit myself for being the perfect child they wanted to clone and, by golly, they were going to keep trying till they got another me.
January 22nd I got off the bus and my mom's best friend, our neighbor was there to greet me. I don't remember all the specifics but I know I found out my mom went to the hospital, I know that eventually that evening I learned that my mom was delivering early and I know that the next day at school I milked the situation with my teachers of why my homework wasn't completed. There must have been some sort of awareness that things were terribly wrong- my mom wasn't suppose to deliver until late April- but I saw my mom as my rock and a person who would always be there no matter what. She seemed so strong and in control I never doubted the news I wold find out.
My mother was in the hospital and my new baby brother was flown to a different hospital. He was 1lbs 9 oz. at birth and my mother was really sick too. I can't remember what I was told or who told me but I knew that both my mother and brother were near death and needed all the prayers and thoughts they could get.
My step father took me to visit my nameless brother within the next couple of days. I even got to see him before my mom did because she was so sick. We drove downtown to the hospital and scrubbed our skin raw for what seemed like forever until the nurse let us in. His eyes were bandaged and he was laying naked except for the diaper under a bright warm light. So many of his features were perfect and so many were so underdeveloped. He had the cutest little fingers and toes but his skin was so transparent I could literally see through it. They had a special cream that they put on him to help the growth of skin cells and all the monitors had to go through his umbilical cord so the tape wouldn't damage the little skin he had. I saw the breathing tube and I remember crying. I didn't know if he would make it and he didn't even have a name.
I also went to see my mom- this time with my younger brothers too. They were six and three and the time and I was the older big sister. I know that my neighbors were a great help and my step dad could handle things on his own for a few days but seeing my mom so delicate and weak really put into perspective that things were not normal and this was much different and we would all have to try our best to make things easier on mom. My brother's didn't really grasp this concept and I knew that my role as a big sister would be very important to get my mom back home safe and healthy.
A week or so after my brother was born he was no longer "Baby Boy Hansard" but was officially named: Hunter Rayce William Hansard. He had a hard battle ahead of him. We all did. His name was important as a definition of a fighter.
No comments:
Post a Comment