By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

I had an uneasy feeling about the whole thing that hit home just after I hung up the telephone. I just couldn't put my finger on it.

Dawn Dickerson had just called me to tell me that she was on the way to Southern Regional Hospital for the birth of her first child. Her husband, Chuck, would be with her, of course, and I elicited a promise that she or Chuck would call me whenever she had dilated five centimeters.

During the last four and a half years, I have made it a practice to be at the hospital, whenever possible, at the birth of a baby. I'm not in the delivery room, of course, but am outside in the waiting room so that, whenever the new child comes into the world, I can step in and bless the child and offer the first prayer. I have missed very few births during this time.

Normally, I head to the hospital at five centimeters, which is usually considered the "halfway point," since 10 centimeters is full dilation and the baby has arrived.

I expected to receive the call sometime during the night and, even so, slept unusually fitfully, waking every half-hour or so to pray for Dawn and the baby. The Dickersons weren't supposed to be able to conceive this child so, from the beginning, we considered the baby in Dawn's body a "miracle child." Surely, my uneasy feeling would go away.

I called the hospital early in the morning only to find that very little dilation had taken place and a birth did not appear imminent, even though there were strong and regular contractions. Convincing myself that all was well, I continued my morning routine and kept several appointments.

As the afternoon wore on with no news of significant progress, I decided to alter my schedule and travel to the hospital. Before leaving, however, I put out a "prayer alert" on our church e-mail to pray for the baby and the parents.

Arriving at the hospital around mid-afternoon, I greeted Dawn, Chuck, her parents, and Joanne Neece, who was coaching Dawn through the birth process. All appeared well, so I retired to the waiting room.

Things began to go badly, although we didn't know just how badly. The hospital staff began a procedure to deaden the pain of childbirth, but the baby didn't respond and it was discontinued.

Twice, medication was administered to induce labor but this too, caused the child distress and was discontinued.

Throughout these processes, Dawn was simply not dilating. Her water finally broke, but, still, no dilation. Something was terribly wrong but just what was not evident. Several times, I called trusted prayer partners to intercede for this worsening situation.

Finally, late into the night, the doctor decided to deliver the baby by Cesarean section. The medical staff was clearly concerned and this tension was picked up by the family and friends gathered.

At 11:10 p.m., the child was taken surgically from the womb with the umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck and knotted. Every time a contraction had occurred, the cord had, apparently, tightened.

The midwife said that, in nearly 1,300 births, such a situation would only occur five or six times with most of them turning out very badly. She said, "God had his hand on this child tonight." The obstetrician was heard on the videotape remaking, "This is a miracle baby!"

The troublesome cervix that refused to dilate likely saved the baby's life. For, if the natural birth had occurred, it is very probable that the double-looped and knotted cord would have strangled her and caused her death or brain damage.

My wife, an experienced nurse and an assistant professor of nursing at a state university, said simply, "God did not let the cervix dilate." Some might consider that a miracle.

Sometime after midnight, I held the child in my arms and, standing in the hallway of Southern Regional, surrounded by family, friends, and medical staff, I anointed her with holy oil, gave thanks to God for her safe arrival, and pronounced the blessing of the church upon her. Indeed, she was a miracle child.

Last Sunday, Rayna Lynn Dickerson, an alert, healthy, and beautiful girl, received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism surrounded by family and friends. Someone said there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I wouldn't know about that. I couldn't see for the tears.

[Father David Epps is rector at Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Peachtree City. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com.]

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