Stable and Doing Fine

“Gone were the weak knees and legs getting ready to crumble, restored were my strong runner legs, dancer body, doing what I do best: rejoice, dance, run, hop, skip and jump. It was hallelujah time! It was praising God time!

Between 7-8am EST Tuesday May 19, 2020, I texted Reggie asking how the day had gone, knowing it was about 8-9pm in Japan. His reply, “Mom and baby are stable and doing fine. I’m fine too,” was a normal reply regarding updates on his wife’s condition, our daughter Ana. On Sunday, Reggie told us Ana was in the US Naval Hospital in Okinawa Japan due to early dilation (3cm), our prayers were for her to go full term; she was in her sixth month. When I spoke with Ana Monday night EST/Tuesday morning JPN, she expected to be discharged that day or the next but all was well; but the next information I read in Reggie’s text took my breath away:

Hensley Courtland Thomas born Tuesday May 19

Time: 1613 or 4:13PM JPN, 3:13AM EST

Length: 13.8 inches

Weight: 2lbs 5ozs

Gestation: 26-weeks and 3-days

I immediately called our new-son Reggie; he didn’t answer. He texted me, “Can’t talk; meeting with doctors.” I gathered myself up from my office couch and raced down the stairs with my cell phone in hand. I wanted to show my husband José, ask his opinion on what I just received. Is this correct? The baby is here? 

As soon as I hit the main floor and leaped to José sitting at the kitchen island, my phone rang, it was Aaron. As soon as I heard Aaron’s voice, “Hey Ma,” I knew he knew, I knew he knew something about his sister’s news. Aaron is like that, we share the same sentiments and urgencies regarding matters of the heart. 

Aaron did the same thing the day of my wedding in 2007. I woke up in the hotel, where the brides-maids and I were staying before the wedding, with Cannaday on my mind. During the rehearsal dinner the night before, my older son Cannaday wasn’t feeling well. We discovered later he had pink eye, but on my wedding morning all I was thinking about was getting him some medical attention. I crept into the bathroom with my phone to call our eye doctor without waking Ana and Contessa, and no sooner had I shut the door my phone rang. It was Aaron. He said, “Ma what are we going to do about Cannaday?” I was thinking the same thing, and together we got Cannaday the attention and meds he needed. So on May 19 when I heard Aaron say, “Hey Ma,” in his serious calm and ready to take action voice, I knew he received Reggie’s news too. 

Baby Hensley Day 1

I was about to spin out of control. I felt my body on the verge of unsteadiness, my knees weak, I held my breath, my heart seemed to stop. Oh no I thought, not now, this is not what we wanted, what does this mean for the baby, for Ana’s health… In a matter of nanoseconds these thoughts flooded my mind, like a wave of bad news. I stuttered into the phone, “What, what, what does this mean? Is the baby here?” “Yeah Ma,” was Aaron’s calm clear direct reply. I paused, the wave of bad news was beginning to drown me, it got stuck in my throat, in my heart, and I could only utter, “Aaron please pray,” and he did. 

Aaron’s prayer calmed my spirit. Aaron’s prayer soothed my soul. Aaron’s prayer returned life to my lungs, and I was able to inhale God’s power, God’s blessing. I steadied myself, my knees didn’t buckle, my soul was restored in a matter of seconds as I listened to Aaron’s prayer. Yes, this news is a blessing! I let go of the wave of doom and gloom and grasped the brass ring of hope, joy, and goodness! Remembering Reggie’s other words, “Mother and baby are stable and doing fine!” That was the blessing right now, at this moment. I didn’t know what the next few minutes or days would bring, what the news or updates would entail, but at this moment, at this present time the news is GOOD! We have a new baby boy! We have been blessed earlier than expected with a grandson, a nephew, a son! 

I let go of the wave of doom and gloom and grasped the brass ring of hope, joy, and goodness!

I rejoiced! I began a happy dance of joy. Gone were the weak knees and legs getting ready to crumble, restored were my strong runner legs, dancer body, doing what I do best: rejoice, dance, run, hop, skip and jump! It was hallelujah time, it was praising God time! 

“Mother and baby are stable and doing fine!”

 

Ana and Reggie, Okinawa Japan 2020

Thank you Aaron for your love, for your faith, for your convictions to follow your spirit’s guidance. We make a great team, always have, always will.

Love Mom

8/16/20

I wrote this in my journal August 16, 2020, about 3 months after Hensley was born. After 81 days in neonatal ICU, 6 leg casts, boots and bars, and a village of praying family and friends, mother and baby are stable and still doing fine, and dad too! 

Hensley, Reggie, and Ana, Summer 2021

Hensley, Fall 2021