The Joy of Life

It was a cold afternoon in February when I received the call. My best friend’s mother was calling me with some very important news. If I wanted to meet my friend’s baby I would need to come to the hospital because she had just been born. I was so excited that I couldn’t even drive myself there. I was thrilled by the fact that my friend had remembered me in such an important time in her life and that she wanted me to share the experience with her.

I entered into the hospital and began reading the signs trying to determine the way into which I could get my first glimpse of the little baby. As usual when trying to find something in a hurry I was too excited to read the signs right. This is the point when my friend’s stepmother, who I had never met, saw me and said “I know which way you want to go, just follow me.” I have been best friends with Ashlyn ever since we first met in the fifth grade. I have known her mother and stepfather the entire time but I had never met her father or stepmother so I was unsure if I should trust this woman. I wanted to meet little Maddison so bad that I trusted an absolute stranger to get me in the right direction. As it turns out she was right and this is when I entered the room.

It was filled with people, Ashlyn’s mom, stepfather, father, stepmother, two little brothers, and her boyfriend. To me I only noticed Ashlyn holding Maddison in her arms. Ashlyn explained that she had a caesarean section. Being that I want a career in the medical field I asked to see the incision and asked if she was in much pain. Fortunately for Ashlyn they had given her the adequate amount of pain pills and she was in no pain except for mildly when she moved in certain directions.

Of course I wanted to hold Maddison myself but I am quite terrified of newborn babies. I feel that they are the most defenseless and that I will hurt them on accident. I sat in a chair while Maddison was given to me. This is the point at which everything stopped for me. All I could see were her tiny little hands and perfect face. Growing up Ashlyn and I had babysat her two little brothers often and they were trying to get my attention. I was completely unaware of this at the time. It was not until I saw the pictures where I am looking down and holding her that the two boys are making faces and tapping on my shoulder.

I sat there for over an hour holding and talking to no one but Maddison. It wasn’t until the nurses came in that I had to give my little world up. Maddison had to be taken for some shots and it was time for her to be put with the other babies. Visitation hours were close to being over and Ashlyn wanted some time alone with Maddison before it was time for her to sleep. I visited with the family and Ashlyn a little bit more before I left for the night. I noticed that over time more people had come in to visit I had been oblivious to all of this because Maddison had drawn in my attention. The parents of Ashlyn’s boyfriend and his sister had added to the already large amount in the room. I slowly adjusted back to listening to the conversations at hand and focused less on the little bundle of joy that everyone wanted a part of.