My Arrival

Four Generations

(L to R) Me, My Mother, My Mamaw, My Great-Grandmother

First Picture At Home
Apparently Not Too Happy About It!

As the cold winter gave way to May 1962 my mother and Mamaw (did I mentioned she moved back to live with mom in Jackson? Surprise! Surprise!) prepared for my impending arrival. Mom started having labor pains on the night of the 17^th so they called, from now on let's just call him “Crazy Uncle Tommy”, and off they drove to Baptist Hospital. Mom labored and labored but with no result. They realized, almost too late, that I was breech because they saw one of my feet coming out first. What would have been worse than just a breach presentation would have been if the foot they saw was actually attached to my head.  I'm picturing Rachel Dratch in the SNL skit where she and Jennifer Garner are conjoined twins and, well, I would just have had a leg instead! So here we go to Plan B – C-Section. I was born at 6:44 PM, May 18, 1962.

But, sadly something was wrong, something was terribly wrong. I was born with a form of Spina Bifida called Myelomeningocele. Basically my spine protruded at its base into a sac.  Mamaw's hand-wringing started up with such a speed it is a wonder her skin didn't roll off on the floor. My mom said they told her I might never walk, could possible have water on my brain, all sorts of horrible things. My mom has told me one of the happiest days of her life was when a nurse came into her room almost jumping for joy saying “She's kicking her legs! She's kicking her legs!” Bless that sweet nurses heart! They sent us home a few days later with some appointments with specialists. Again with the Mamaw mantra which you should all remember by now. And, my tough as nails mother said “We are going to take her home and love her and do the best we can.”

My Precious Mama Rocking Me

Well, of course, my crib was moved from my mom's room to Mamaw's almost before mom got me out of the car! And there began the love affair between my Mamaw and me.