Today, I am flying overseas to see my two new 7-month-old nephews for the first time! In the last 7 months, I have seen them in photos and on Skype video calls (thank God for Skype), but when I hold them in my hands, kiss them, hug them and smell them (and their mothers, my two sisters), I will cry for joy.
Both these nephews are the first children of my 36- and 42-year-old sisters and because of the mothers’ age and the pressure of a tough pregnancy of the older sister they are obviously very precious babies. Look at them! I think they know how precious they are. These photos are their real photos with the permission of their mothers.
For one of my sisters, this baby is precious for another reason.
15 years ago, when Gal, Eden and I lived in Texas, my youngest sister Nurit, the mother of this gorgeous sleeping mocha baby above, came to stay with us for the birth of our second child. We had the most wonderful two weeks before the delivery and I vividly remember the day after he was born that we hugged him and took wonderful happy photos of us with the new addition to the family. The photos are well hidden now, because this wonderful joy lasted for only a short time. This baby died of a heart defect after 30 hours (I tell you the full story from Thursday 19th of November, so make sure you’re reading then).
Over the years, I have learned that because she had been with us before his birth, on that day and even during his funeral, she had lost him too.
During the time Nurit was pregnant and when her son was born, I thought that my son Tsoof, who was born after our two losses, has been an experience that has helped me overcome my grief and be happy again. It took 2½ years for me to have him and fix that horrible feeling of loss, but for her, it probably took 15 years until she held her own son in her hands, experience supreme joy and put her horrible experience with us behind.
This visit is particularly important and special for me. I am leaving today and hoping that when I hug and kiss her son and kiss and hug my sister, her healing will be complete and so will mine.
Happy day and “see” you on Thursday,
Ronit
