Full Circle

When Emma was born 6 1/2 years ago I will admit that everything was a blur. I often describe it as an out of body experience. People will ask, "How did you get through it?". The truth is I don't know how I got through it? Some days I'm still not sure how I get through it....I just do.

However, thinking back to 6 years ago at this time has always been painful. It was an extremely difficult time, and it angers me that I have very few memories of Emma's first year of life. The memories that I do have are blurred by medical terms, medical equipment, and stressful situations. The truth is that Emma's life truly began on March 19, 2004...the day that she received a new liver.

This past week that precious day (the day we "got the call" that there was a liver waiting to save our baby girl's life) came full circle.

First of all, let me explain the day that we got "the call".....I had just arrived at our small ski resort with our school. I teach at a rural school (30 kids grades Kdg.-5th), and we ski every Friday during the winter. We had just arrived when someone came to find me to say that I had a phone call. At that moment I KNEW!! I went and took the call, and I cried and cried and cried ALL the way to my car. Luckily my sister was there to take me back to town.

Ironically, Emma's liver came from a beautiful 17 year old girl who had the misfortune of a ski accident in Colorado. She was not wearing a helmet and suffered a fatal head injury.

Fast forward to 6 years later. Our ski resort has not been operational since March 19, 2004...the exact day that we "got the call" was the LAST day that it was open. Fortunately, someone new purchased it, and it re-opened this year. Last Friday, our little school returned to the ski resort......with Emma PARTICIPATING!!!

A TRUE MIRACLE in every sense of the word!! Luckily, her Dad was able to join us. The 3 of us spent the entire day together. All of the kids had fun, but Emma was just glowing (and so were her parents). I don't think anyone truly understood the impact that it had on us that day.

It had come full circle! It was a day of understanding....a day of joy.....a day of memories.... a wonderful day where new memories were created. We felt so blessed to be able to have her there with us! Truly miraculous!

(OH! And I made SURE that every child in our school had a helmet to wear on the slopes!! Isn't it ironic the lessons that life teaches us?)








Can you see how happy she was?