Coraline's 4th Birthday

Happy 4th Birthday Coraline!

I remember when my daughter was born in the summer of 2017. For me the moment she was born is a defining moment in my life. I believe my purpose was delivered to me that day. I believe that pure love came to me from all angles, amongst my family and friends the day she was born. If I look at my life laid out, this is a turning point. A moment in the shaping of me.

My husband Kevin and I were living in our first home together. People would often exclaim, “it’s like a fairy tale cottage,” when they walked down its path under a bridge of plants intertwined, to our front door with white roses blooming above it and a horseshoe above the door.

Inside this house, Kevin and I were ready on the morning our daughter was born. We were going into our local hospital twenty minutes away for a planned caesarean so we knew what was ahead. There was a stillness and a neatness to our house.

I sat on our immaculate sofa ready for Kevin to drive us to the hospital. It had been Kevin’s 40th birthday the day before.

We arrived at the hospital early, so we walked around the grounds chatting with wonder. We went up to a little waiting room with Kevin keeping me calm with magazines. Then it was time. We put on our carefully chosen music playlist. Our daughter was born. I was wheeled out, marvelling that I had a daughter.

I sat in joy. I remember the paediatrican coming in and saying, “your daughter is exhibiting signs of Down’s syndrome”. I sat in shock.

Meanwhile our little home, tidy and ready, waited patiently for us to come home, up the path, through the door, under the roses and horseshoe.