The Gift of Life

by Stephanie
(Chandler, Arizona, )

It was a bright early morning. My clock had barely hit 7 when I heard a deafening scream coming from my parents' bedroom. I sat up straight in my bed clenching my blanket so hard in my hands they started sweating.

I slowly slid out of bed and inched towards my parents' bedroom door. When I reached the bedroom door there was another deafening scream. I flinched back, afraid of what was happening. I pressed my ear gingerly against the door trying to hear what was going on.

I heard my papa pacing around the room throwing things onto the bed. Suddenly it hit me. My baby sister was coming!

Papa had told me that he and Mommy were giving me a baby sister. He said that she'd be coming in 9 months. Even though I was only 4, I tried doing the math of how long it had been. It had only been 7 months! My baby sister was coming too early!

Papa opened the door and rushed me to my room. He slid on my shoes and guided my jacket onto my tiny arms. He rushed me to the minivan and strapped me into the car seat. We heard another piercing scream echoing throughout the house. Papa quickly finished strapping me in and ran back into the house. He was helping Mommy into the van. She was breathing quickly and fast.

Papa drove as fast as he could. I was still sleepy but I knew I had to stay awake in case I was needed. Finally after what seemed like a lifetime, Papa pulled into the hospital's parking lot. I released my seatbelt and pulled open the white, heavy door. I hopped out and whipped around to close the door.

Papa was already helping Mommy out of the car while a tall lady with long brown hair was pushing a wheelchair towards us. I started heading towards it thinking it was for me until I saw Papa motioning for Mommy to sit in it. Mommy sat down and grunted and cried out in pain. My baby sister was coming!

The tall lady rushed Mommy beyond the automatic doors and down long hallways. Finally she rolled Mommy past two doors I wasn't allowed past. Papa made a request to a nurse and followed Mommy. Another chubby nurse ushered me into the big white waiting room that smelled of toothpaste and dirty socks.

I fell asleep in the big red chair. It had a missing piece of leather that I was messing with for some time. I was shaken lightly only to find Papa standing there smiling at me. I looked up and yelled at him, "Papa!" He hugged me, then picked me up.

He walked quickly past the double doors and into the room with Mommy. She was holding a tiny pale thing. I thought it was a doughnut or something but it was a baby, my baby sister. I gently sat down next to Mommy when she said, "Stephanie, meet your baby sister Tiffany." I kissed the baby's head gently and laid next to my Mommy.

They released Mommy after a few more hours but made Tiffany stay longer. This made me sad but Papa made me understand she was sick. He said that Tiffany was born too early and that her head was stuck facing one direction. I knew once she came home, I'd be the best big sister ever.

My little sister, Tiffany, was the greatest gift in my life. She was born two months premature and was born with some serious bodily issues. She had a misshaped head which was later fixed before the age of 3. Tiffany also had a cross bite because of her misshaped head. She was kept at the hospital for around a month and a half.

I've watched her grow up and she's grown into such an amazing and lively person despite what happened to her when she was born. Tiffany inspired me to join March of Dimes to help with premature babies and Unity Club to help fight bullying of others. She will always be the greatest gift of all.