story4060.xml

story4060.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

September 11, 2001, is a day very few people will ever forget. I remember it all very clearly. Sunday night, September 9, 2001, at midnight, my sister was to report to the hospital to have her labor induced. The hospital was unwelcoming that late at night. The only souls who seemed to inhabit the building were emergency room patients with sour faces because the had been waiting so long. I quickly changed my position on the hospital's feelings when we entered the third floor baby ward. The nursing staff signed in my sister, Sarah, filled out the mile long paper work, asked her seemingly endless questions and finally gave her medication to soften her cervix and strengthen her contractions. I watched the clock's hands make their revolutions around the white circle in their taunting, slow manner. I asked myself over and over again, "Could this possibly be the longest night on Earth?"
The next day was not much better. My sister had been awake all night and was now becoming grumpy. Just to pass time, her fiancee and I began to joke about the way she was acting. Nurses and doctors were in and out periodically. Every time they broght the same heart breaking news that it was not time yet. The day went by much the same as the previous night- uneventful and boring. My mom could tell my impatience was growing so we returned home to get some sleep.
The next day we were to return to the hospital at six o'clock in the morning. The snooze button was worn down by our repetitive pushing (being as tired as we were). My sister called the house, I ran to answer it, frantic, yet hopeful. The news was a little different than we expected. She ordered, "Turn on the T.V!" We did as she said and were shocked to find a plane had hit the World Trade Center Tower One. We continued to stay glued to the television set like a deer caught in the headlight's of a car. The shock continued to rise as the reports were read. First, that the second tower was hit, then the Pentagon. With all of this going on we hurriedly dressed and went to the hospital. Upon our arrival we were updated with the news that she was dialated enough to have her water broken. This was the moment I had been waiting to arrive for the last nine months. My sister was about to be a mother. My mom was about be a grandmother. Most importantly, I was about to be someone's aunt! Six hours later, Sarah was complaining about the pressure. The nurse prepared to make a normal check. When she began, she said, "Sarah you can begin pushing." I was overcome with excitment! Fifteen minutes later I heard the screaming of a newly born life, the most wonderful sound I had ever heard. I cried at the look on my sister's face. Sevien, my nephew, was finally here.
While the rest of America was mourning, my family celebrated. On a day when many shed tears of sorrow, I cried for joy. My nephew was born on one of the most memorable days in history- September 11, 2001.