We all have events in our lives that seem to change us. Change the way we see life. One of those events happened when I was 8 years old and in the 2nd grade. My Mom was pregnant with her 3rd child, an exciting time for our family. I was looking forward to being a big sister again. When Mom went to the hospital I waited at home with my Grandma and my brother Brian.
When we finally got the news that the baby was a girl, I was so happy. But there was something wrong, I could tell by the way my Grandma was acting. They said there was something wrong with the baby.
What they discovered after testing that my Mom had German measles while pregnant and the baby had many deformities that were visible, many were not. I cannot describe the sadness in our family.
My sisters name was Beth Ellen and when I met her for the first time I fell in love and my big sister instincts kicked in and I would protect her no matter what. So if anyone said anything about the way she looked I would give them a look or say something that would stop them immediately. I figured that’s what I was there for.
My sister lived for 9 months and I will always remember her crooked smile, her beautiful blonde hair and even the way she smelled. She changed my life by knowing how to love someone unconditionally. My daughter Bethany is named after her. I look forward to meeting her again. I think I’ll recognize her by her beautiful hair and we’ll have so much to catch up on.
Sharing the Journey 