29 years ago tomorrow is the birth of my Daughter Rachel. Many of you have met her at the m2’s or the m3’s. I have been blessed to have such and amazing relationship with her. We have done so many things together and I hope that all parents have an opportunity to feel the love and respect we have for each other.
But I want to tell the story of her first dance in this world. Her Birth is a story worth sharing. I am sure I will have you Moms shaking your heads, maybe even some Dads out there. But here goes.
All though I don’t hunt any longer, I use to be a big time Hunter. I waited each year for the hunting season to begin. The first hunt of the year was the archery hunt. My Buddies and I would get the Bows out and practice months before the hunt so if we were to get a good shot, we would make it count.
It was a week or so into the hunt, I was hunting on the mountains west of Ephraim. I came onto a two point buck, drew back, let it fly and connected right behind the front shoulder. Perfect lung shot. I waited for a few minutes and began tracking, hopefully my dinner for months to come. I walked about 75 yards and there it was. I gutted it and drug it back to my truck. It was dark when I got home so I choose to hang it in my garage and get the hide off of it the next morning.
My Wife Joann was 9 months pregnant and was due at any time. In fact, her pregnancy was kinda of getting in the way my favorite hunt. I was constantly worried that she would go into labor and I may be hunting and miss something very special. Remember, no cell phones back then. Only CB radios and ya had to be on a mountain peak to connect with home.
That night while my kill was hanging in the garage Joann got very restless. She kept getting up from bed and coming back telling me she maybe going into labor. I asked if her water had broke and she told me no. I had been thru the Birth thing before, and figured that water had to break before you headed to the hospital. At 6 am I finally decided I better get up and get this deer taken care of because I maybe at the hospital sometime today welcoming our new baby into this world.
Joann’s mother was at our home staying and after I went out and began pelting the deer, she came out and told me that I needed to get her to the hospital. I asked again if her water had broke and how far apart were the contractions and her answers made me think we still had lots of time. Her Mother tried to call the Doctor to make sure he would be at the hospital but he was at choir practice. I was just finishing up the deer when her mother came out and yelled that I have to get her to the hospital. I walked into the house and there laid Joann. Her water had just broke and the baby was starting to crown. All of a sudden I knew we had to make a move. We still had not gotten a hold of the Doctor so I instructed her Mom to call the Hospital and tell them we are on our way. After the contraction was over, I got Joann on her feet and waddled her to the car. I got her on the passenger side of the 1977 Fury and laid the seat back. We had 14 miles to drive to the next City and a Hospital. I flew out of the drive way and was doing 110 MPH all the way to the hospital. She kept telling me it was coming out and I would tell her to hold off, we are almost there. It was tense and crazy as hell. When I came into town I slowed down to about 75 as I hit main street. Only ¾ of a mile to go. A Mt. Pleasant city Cop happen to be sitting off the side of the road as I came into town and immediately turned on the lights, sirens and began pursuit. I had no choice. I could not stop. I kept it punched . I flew into the back of the hospital to the emergency entrance and 3 nurses were waiting for us. But no Doctor!!! The cop screamed behind us, took one look at what was going on and immediately began to help anyway he could. The Male nurse wanted to deliver her right in the car. I insisted we get her on a gurney and into the delivery room. So we picked her up on the count of 3 and put her on the bed which immediately began rolling into the hospital. As we were going in the male nurse was delivering the baby. By the time we got to the delivery room Rachel was most of the way out. As soon as she came out she began screaming, which is a good sign, but her head was all pointed ( like a cone head on Saturday night live) from pushing so hard and not being able to come out, and every blood vessel in her eyes had broken and her eyes were beat red.
I was thinking to myself, What have I Done to this child? Is she going to be ok? The Doctor finally showed up, gave her an examination and determined her to be just fine. A huge sigh of relief fell over me. It had been a crazy morning and to hear all is well was music to our ears.
If you have met Rachel, you know that everything is fine. She had brought so much happiness and joy into my life. She is not just my daughter, but my best friend too. We can talk about anything. I still remember how she would confide in me instead of her mother in those early years as a teenager.
I am blessed with 3 amazing children. Each have given me so much joy and I am a lucky Dad to have them in my life. I woke up today thinking of Rachel’s birthday tomorrow and wanted to share this story. Hope you enjoy it.
I am leaving for San Francisco tomorrow with my Son Sean. Just the boys. I am very excited to have the one on one time with him. His Birth was not near as tramatic, but you should have heard me yell when my first boy came into this world. It was heard in every hall way of the hospital. Joann’s parents were down the hall and knew when they heard my scream that I got my Son!!! Remember, back then we had no idea what were were getting.
My Oldest Daughter Jaqueline ( Who was always Daddy’s Girl) has Blessed me with 3 gorgeous Grand children. It doesn’t get better that that. Life is good .
Be sure to tell each of your children how much they mean to you constantly.
Happy Birthday Rachel. Thank You Jaqueline, Rachel and Sean for making me who I am. Love you each more than you can imagine.
Karl Bessey