story1035.xml

story1035.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-16

I first learned about the attack as I was laying on a hospital gurney, strapped into a fetal monitoring system. My obstetrician came dashing into the observation room another expectant mother I shared, and turned on the television. As I watched the newscasts, my adrenaline kicked in and the baby started reacting as well, a reassurance of a hopeful future at a time when the world seemed to be crashing down around us.

I was expecting my first child. The pregnancy had gone well but at the beginning of the third trimester, I started experiencing early contractions and developed gestational diabetes so was sentenced by my doctor to weekly hospital visits to ensure Baby?s and Mom?s well being.

The mother next to me had just been told she was sufficiently dilated such that she would deliver that day. As we both stared in disbelief as the story of 9/11 unfolded in front of us, we shared our fears about the future, not just for us, but for our soon to be born children.

We were also less than a mile from the largest military base in the free world, Fort Hood where both our Army husbands were stationed. This base also serves as a landing site for the President Bush when he visits his Crawford, Texas ranch. We were quite concerned that it too might come under attack. Fortunately, I was able to reach my husband by cell phone and her reassured me the situation was under control by then.

After the other mother was wheeled off to labor, I wondered what would happen to her and her baby as nurses started discussing the hospital might close.

We didn?t realize it then, but the free world was experiencing the fear, rage, disbelief and uncertainty along with us.

Almost a year later, we?re both new moms and our lives are vastly different in many ways. We both get less sleep, but have a beautiful new life that brings us joy. We share sorrow for the families that lost loved ones, but have seen the American people come together with resolve and observe countless heroic acts from everyday people. My husband was deployed to Kuwait for almost five months of his new daughter?s life, but we as a family recognize the weight of his serving to uphold the values of our free democracy. The possibility remains that he may be deployed again, but we will carry on as strong and independent military families have before us, proud of him that he is a soldier, brave and willing to fight for the democratic ideals that affords us the wonderful life we as Americans live.

Although we see daily, minor inconviences resulting from 9/11: it is more difficult to get on post; air travel is less convenient; and the news from the Middle East demonstrates the threat of violence is ever-present; we need to remember the big picture: who we are as a country and how much our freedom is worth.