I was sent to the hospital to interpret for a woman who was 8 months pregnant. I thought it was a routine doctor's visit. When I got there I found out it was a scheduled c-section and I had to go into the operating room with her. Surprise! I have never been a witness to anything in an operating room other than my two deliveries a long time ago. In other occasions I have been under the effects of either happy drugs or anesthesia. They proceeded to give me a green gown, slippers, head and mouth cover (not fashionable at all.) Since this is a teaching hospital there were about 20 people in the operating room: doctors, residents, nurses, students...and the interpreter. Every 5 minutes someone would ask me if I was about to faint. I have to say that I did pretty well, I tried to concentrate in doing a good job. The woman had diabetes and heart problems and had to be monitored constantly.
And then she was born, and mom and dad were crying and I was stuck in the middle of their embrace. I was happy too. Then there was that moment when the doctor picked up the child and showed her to the parents. This is to her:
If I could only
for a single moment
look inside your soul
and discover
the real you, your essence
that of a child
just born
with wet hair and
a bloody face, and legs
dangling like a rag doll
but oh, so perfect
blessed miracle
infinite joy!
No comments:
Post a Comment