Another knock announced the doctor’s return, this time accompanied by the nurse she’d seen earlier. While the nurse prepped Julia, Dr. Morrow washed his hands then put on rubber gloves. Julia tried to relax by counting squares on the ceiling. There was some discomfort when the doctor pressed on her abdomen. Finishing up, he instructed her to get dressed and said he would see her and her husband in his office. The nurse handed her some tissues and left. A few minutes later, she returned to escort her to Dr. Morrow’s office where Marley was waiting.
“Okay, let’s see what we have here,” Dr. Morrow said as the door closed behind them. “As you both know, there’s a fairly extensive amount of scar tissue in the uterus as well as on the outer uterine wall. Since you are pregnant, I can’t do anything about the inside, but I can do something about the outside. Have you heard of laparoscopic surgery?”
Marley and Julia looked at each other and shook their heads.
“It’s relatively new but has been performed successfully, and I think it might be perfect for your problem, Mrs. Westbrook.”
By the time Dr. Morrow fully explained the procedure, their heads were spinning. It sounded scary and expensive. He offered no guarantees, of course, but without it, miscarriage was a given, and there wasn’t much time to decide. Right now, Julia’s uterus was wrapping itself around the scar tissue, but the tissue would win out in the end, with no room for expansion. Marley and Julia asked for a few minutes alone. Dr. Morrow left, and they bowed their heads, asking for guidance and peace about the decision.
Marley opened the door and stepped into the hall. Dr. Morrow and his nurse were talking at the end, but he saw Marley and turned in his direction.
Sitting down behind his desk, Dr. Morrow asked, “What’s your decision?”
“We’re ready to go ahead with the procedure. We trust you. Actually, we trust God.” Julia smiled at Marley.
“All right then, let’s get the paperwork done and get you scheduled.”
Marley and Julia left thirty minutes later with a folder full of papers along with pre-surgical instructions and an appointment in two weeks. Feeling hopeful, they stopped for lunch before heading southward.
**************************************************
“Mr. Westbrook.” Marley was so engrossed in his thoughts he’d not heard the doctor’s approach. Jumping up quickly, he immediately sat back down when the doctor did so.
“I’m sorry things took a little longer than expected, but the scarring was worse than I initially thought. I was able to remove what I could access, but there’s more behind the uterus that I couldn’t reach. Things are better than when your wife came in, but not as good as I’d hoped for. Do you have any questions?”
Marley didn’t know what questions he should have other than “now what?”
Dr. Morrow continued. “You’ll be able to see her in about an hour. She’ll be groggy, of course, and we’ll need to keep her here for a couple of nights to monitor bleeding and vital signs. If all goes well, she’ll be discharged to her local doctor’s care who should be able to take care of things from here on out. Good luck, Mr. Westbrook.” The doctor shook Marley’s hands and hurried away then returned. He gazed steadily at Marley for a moment before speaking. “You said before that you trusted God. Medicine has done all it can do for your wife, Mr. Westbrook, so I hope your God is listening.”
Marley whispered, “He’s always listening,” but the doctor was already out of earshot.
Chapter 44
Christmas Day, 1976
While spending Christmas in the hospital was on the radar, neither Marley nor Julia thought it would happen and had gone about their morning as with any other. Breakfast finished and table cleared, they settled themselves in the family room by the fire, exchanged presents, and gave Bailey a treat and a new chew toy.
They were sipping hot cocoa when Julia felt a strong cramp, stood up, and gasped as her water broke, soaking her pajama bottoms and slippers. Marley dashed upstairs to get clothes for Julia, as well as her packed bag, stopped to pat Bailey, asked Julia if she needed anything else, then ran out the back door minus his wife. Fortunately, he realized his mistake before making it to the end of the drive. Julia met him on the front porch.
“Don’t walk down the steps by yourself!” Marley yelled as he jumped out of the truck. They already decided the Mustang would not make this trip, but the new car they ordered was not in yet, so the truck would have to do. Julia grabbed the handle inside the door frame while Marley pushed from behind to get her into the high-rise vehicle.
“Oomph!” Julia said as she dropped into the seat. That was quickly followed by “Owww” as another contraction hit.
“You okay?” Marley asked.
“Do I sound like I’m okay?” Julia huffed and tried to breathe properly as instructed.
“Sorry,” Marley replied as he threw the truck in gear and roared out to the highway. Thankfully, there was no traffic in sight, and he made the turn without slowing much. Fifteen minutes later, Julia was in a wheelchair, and he was trying to find an empty spot in the parking lot. Why were there so many people here on Christmas Day for crying out loud? Squeezing between another truck and a small foreign model car, Marley was barely able to get his door open. He rushed inside and was directed to the maternity waiting room on the sixth floor.
Walking up to the reception desk, he asked about Julia and was told someone would be out to talk to him shortly. Shortly. Hospital language for sometime today, or then again, maybe never. He made his way to a corner chair by the window and stared out over the roof of the lower section of the building. Thirty minutes passed, and Marley approached the desk again and heard the same refrain.
Sighing, he debated whether or not to get coffee from the cafeteria. He had to do something, so he informed the receptionist and hurried to the elevator. It was crowded, and he had to squeeze in for the door to close. The contraption stopped on every floor, requiring him to step out for departing passengers. Three hours later, or so it seemed, Marley stepped into the basement cafeteria and went in search of coffee. Spying the beverage station, he quickly poured a cup, put a lid on, and returned to the elevator. Thankfully, it was empty this time, and no one between here and the sixth floor was looking to get on. Sipping the hot drink, he made a face. What did he expect from hospital coffee?
Marley rounded the corner just as Julia’s doctor looked up from where he was standing at the desk. He wore a pained expression, and Marley’s stomach clinched.
“Mr. Westbrook, let’s sit down, please,” the doctor said as he led them to a small room off the main area. Marley fought down the panic rising in his chest.
“I apologize for the wait, but I wanted to be sure of everything before I spoke to you.” Dr. Pratt bore zero resemblance to Dr. Morrow in Atlanta, who was trim and distinguished-looking. Dr. Pratt was short and round, resembling Tweedle-Dee, or Tweedle-Dum. He gazed at Marley with bulbous brown eyes. Marley blinked, and asked, “Be sure of what exactly?”
“Mr. Westbrook, you are well aware of your wife’s situation, the previous pregnancies, the scar tissue, et cetera?” Marley thought about reminding him they’d been through all this, but decided to be polite and just nodded.
“Okay, then, here’s the deal.” Dr. Pratt looked at Marley again as if waiting for permission to continue. Marley nodded again and bit his tongue. At this rate, they’d be here until midnight, and he would still be clueless as to what was happening with Julia.
“I had to do a C-section because there wasn’t enough room for the baby to turn around. It was breech, and time was of the essence. That went well, but the scar tissue impeded my efforts to remove the infant, and it was necessary to cut the uterus away to free the placenta and get the baby out.”
Marley thought he was going to be sick, so he drew a deep breath, got up, and walked around the small room before returning to his chair.
Dr. Pratt continued as if nothing happened, pouring out information in a stream that now cou
ld not be stopped.
“Don’t worry, your wife is fine, and the baby is fine although she’s a bit small. It was necessary to perform a hysterectomy. I left the ovaries, so she won’t experience acute menopause, but there will be no future pregnancies. I’m sorry. There was no other choice.”
The doctor laid his hand on Marley’s shoulder before leaving, telling him he could see Julia in a couple of hours. His daughter could be seen in the nursery when he was ready.
Chapter 45
Present Day
JuJu couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as she thought about her daughter, her only child. So much hope, so much promise wrapped in one tiny pink bundle. How happy she and Marley were to bring little Noelle home. Julia had turned her old bedroom upstairs into a nursery, keeping everything white until the birth when they discovered boy or girl. Within weeks, pastel pink exploded over walls, curtains, bedding, and toys. Marley was a bit overwhelmed, but given the situation, he let Julia do what she wanted. It was her only chance.
Their excitement was contagious, and friends stopped by with Christmas/birthday presents for the little one, bringing in food and supplies. Wanda brought a small, pink Bible with the baby’s name engraved on the front. She even coordinated a group of church ladies to take down the Christmas decorations and put everything away, under Julia’s supervision, of course. Julia’s surgery took a toll, and she was grateful for the help. With Julia’s okay, Marley shared with them about the hysterectomy, omitting certain details, and everyone went above and beyond to take care of them, knowing there would be no more Westbrook babies.
Little Noelle had lots of loving aunties waiting to spoil her. So much hope. Not enough time.
Christmas Day, 1978
Christmas was a whole lot different with an active two-year-old. Noelle was into everything, requiring the family room door be closed at all times lest she attempt tree climbing and ornament removal. Again. This morning’s celebration took all of their energy to keep her away from the fireplace and the tree. Being a good-natured child, she didn’t cry when her efforts were thwarted, but she didn’t give up either.
“Oh, my word, Marley, what are we going to do with her?” Julia exclaimed. “I can barely keep up.” She dropped into a chair after piling empty boxes and ribbons in front of Noelle, hoping to occupy her attention for more than ten minutes. Her toys sat unnoticed by the tree. Both of them laughed as her head disappeared under a box.
“Why are empty boxes so much fun?” Marley asked.
Julia shook her head and replied, “I don’t know, but if it keeps her busy, I am fine with that.”
“Can you believe she’s two years old?”
“No,” Julia responded wistfully, gazing at her child, whose dark, wavy hair came from her mother while the chocolate-brown eyes, graced with incredibly long lashes, belonged to Marley. She was petite, even more so than Julia, but the doctor didn’t seem concerned as long as everything else was good.
Noelle squealed with excitement over some new discovery, causing Bailey to get up from her spot by the fire and investigate. The toddler grabbed the dog’s collar and shook, making the tiny bell jingle. Sniffing around and satisfied all was well, Bailey dropped down beside Noelle, who laid her tiny head on the big Lab, cooing, “Bay. Bay.”
Marley and Julia smiled at each other. Life was good. They were grateful for the Lord’s many blessings.
September 1983
“Marley, I’m not ready for this,” Julia whispered as Marley pulled the car into a visitor’s space at the elementary school.
“Well, babe, ready or not, she’s starting first grade today.”
Tears glistened in Julia’s eyes as she turned to keep Noelle from seeing her face. She drew in a deep breath before replying, “I know. It just happened so fast.” Marley reached over to squeeze her hand then opened his door. Julia got out on her side and opened the back door for Noelle, who climbed out and stood still while Julia fastened the Cinderella backpack to her shoulders.
“There you go, big girl,” Julia said, trying to smile.
Noelle’s grin nearly undid her, so she turned around to grab her purse from the front seat before she lost it completely.
Holding her parents’ hands, Noelle marched proudly through the front door of Serendipity Elementary School into a new adventure. It was a new adventure for Julia, too, as she began the job of Sunday school superintendent at their church. The part-time position allowed her to use her training and still be free to pick up Noelle after school every day.
Too many things to be nervous about for one day.
**************************************************
“Marley, I’m worried. Every day when I pick Noelle up from school, she falls asleep on the way home.”
“Honey, she’s tired. This is new for her, getting up early, spending all day at school, playing. I’m not surprised at all. If I did what she does every day, I’d be tired, too.” Marley chuckled. “Don’t worry.”
Julia paced in the kitchen, stretching the phone cord to its limit. “Well, I don’t think this is normal. She’s so exhausted I have to carry her in the house, and she falls back to sleep as soon as I put her down. She doesn’t even want to play outside.”
“Does she have a fever or anything?”
“No, and her appetite is fine. She wakes up starving. You’re right. I probably worry too much.”
“Okay, babe, look, I gotta run. I’m checking inventory today, but I’ll be home for dinner. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Julia hung up and tried to put her concerns aside. She was never one to worry much, but having a child changed everything. Glancing in the family room at her sleeping child, lovingly guarded by Bailey, she focused her thoughts on dinner. Marley would be hungry after the morning farm chores followed by a long day at the hardware store. They’d been surprised at Joe’s offer when he decided to retire since Marley only worked for him a few months several years ago. Having no family to leave the business to, he approached Marley two years ago with a sweet deal. After talking it over, they accepted, and the store expanded quickly under Marley’s oversight. Six months ago, he hired Nancy’s husband to manage the daily operations. He was looking to get out of the long-haul trucking business, and now with four kids, his wife wanted him home. It was a win-win for everyone.
Tomorrow was Saturday, and Julia looked forward to a day at the new park with Noelle. She hoped Marley could join them, but the day sometime brought more customers than Nancy’s husband, Roy, and the other employee could handle, so Marley often went in to help. The park wasn’t far from the store, so hopefully, he could at least join them for a picnic lunch. Julia had promised Noelle a trip to the ice cream shop afterwards to celebrate all A’s on her first report card. She was a smart little girl, and being able to read by age four gave her a head start. So far, first grade was a breeze.
Julia turned her attention back to dinner, preparing enough fried chicken for tomorrow’s leftovers as well. Noelle came in while she was peeling potatoes.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Julia said over her shoulder as Noelle opened the pantry. “How are you?”
“Okay. Can I have a snack?”
“You may have an apple or banana. I don’t want you to spoil your dinner.”
“And one cookie? Please, Mama?”
Julia turned to look at her daughter and thought she looked a little pale.
“Come here, sweetheart. You sure you’re okay?” Julia asked again as she pressed the back of her hand to the child’s forehead.
“I’m fine, just tired. School is exhausting, you know.”
Julia laughed at her daughter’s response before okaying the extra treat. Removing her hand, she ruffled Noelle’s waves, hoping a snack would perk her up.
Marley came in an hour later as Julia was taking the chicken out of the frying pan. His exaggerated sniff brought a smile to her face and a giggle from Noelle.
“Oh, I think I must have died and gone to heaven,�
�� Marley said as he peered over Julia’s shoulder to get a look at the crispy, golden delight. She pushed him away with her hip, laughing as he retreated to the fridge for iced tea.
Sitting at the table together, they were blissfully unaware of the challenges ahead.
Chapter 46
October 21, 1985
It was a glorious fall day, cool enough to be pleasant, warm enough to not need a jacket. A perfect day for a picnic at the park. Marley was able to leave the store, and they were relaxing on a blanket after lunch while Noelle enjoyed the playground. There were dozens of kids running around, all screaming at the top of their lungs as they raced each other to the giant, enclosed slide, or a seat on the swing set. A merry-go-round and jungle gym completed the ensemble. The school playground now suffered by comparison.
“So, is our princess still set on Cinderella for Halloween?” Marley asked as he spotted his daughter’s head bobbing along in the sea of children.
“Yes. The obsession continues,” Julia answered. “The dress is finished, but I still need to buy a tiara and try to find some glass slippers. I hope I haven’t waited too long.”
“Are you kidding? You’ve only got ten days!”
“I know, I know. It slipped up on me. I got so caught up with the dress, I forgot we needed accessories. Oh! Jelly shoes!” Julia exclaimed.
“What?”
“Jelly shoes. You know, those rubbery shoes Noelle loves. She’s got pink ones, but they come in all sorts of colors. If I can find some clear or silver ones, I’m in business. Let’s stop on the way home.”
“Okay, then,” Marley replied, still wondering what jelly shoes were when he noticed Noelle walking towards them. Her head hung low as she stumbled along. Marley sat up straight. “Julia.”
A Seed Planted Page 18
