My Ob-Gyn, who had accompanied me to my luncheon appointment, whisked me away to a make shift triage for a quick examination before I sat down to lunch. Once he gave me the A-OK to proceed, I sat down with the President for an informal chat. I don't remember what we ate but I do remember enjoying hearty belly laughs with the President.

I joined my friend at another table once the President left - and I planned to spend a little more time enjoying her company and the Tudor-style architecture. Next thing I know, the need to push interrupts me and then I feel as if I dropped a load in my black and white herringbone patterned pants.

I summoned my Ob-Gyn over to me as I laid down on the French white oak wood floors. I asked him, "What did you do to me?" “I'm not supposed to be in labor - she can't die,” I screamed.

I was past labor; I had given birth to my first-born daughter who was grossly premature. I could see her brain through her fontanel that was visibly open and only covered by clear membrane.

I removed my clothes, positioned her on my bent leg that made an isosceles triangle with the floor and cradled her between the crook of my arm near my breast. She wasn't fully formed but I could see her facial features coming into focus. Then her brain dropped into the membrane sack and she nearly stopped breathing.

I cried out for help to my Ob-Gyn but he looked uninterested and said "Oh Well" and shrugged, as if to say"You win some you lose some."

I was losing her but I refused to let her go. I held my body closer to hers. I took deep breaths as if I could breathe for her. In a matter of moments, minutes or hours I don't know - My baby girl's brain and the membrane sack began to retract into her skull. She began to take regular breaths and became a fully formed newborn.

My baby would not only survive, she was on her way to thriving...

Then I woke up 02-09-11 

Copyright (c) 2011 Mel Hopkins

Photo credit : Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research