Life With Cora The beginning

[dragonfly55]

Have you ever had the telephone ring, and know before you even pick it up that what ever is said will change your life forever?

In September of 1996 I got one of those calls.

Sitting here looking at all the note books, journals, and the five inch three ring binder; so carefully labeled Life with Cora The Beginning. It is funny how clear I remember the call and the words, Rhonda will you and Dad come get Cora, Health and Welfare took her back to the hospital. The phone call was late Friday night and I had to be in Seattle by Sunday morning at 9am. Frank just changed jobs and was unable to make the trip so I took my mother along.

Frank and I had only been married for two year, and my mother had 14 hours to bring up every reason why I should not take on a child with a rare disorder; but I can still hear Franks one and only reason for us to go get Cora; “Family does not throw family away”.

When I met Frank it was love at first sight, at least for me it was. He was this tall good looking cowboy. I even had to ask him for the first date, that date has lasted for 18 years. I believed back then and believe to this day that Frank was my destiny.

When my mother and I got the Navy base I was right on time .I met the doctor for the first time he thought my mother was Me, I was only 39. When the doctor realize I was the one that they would be sending Cora home with; he said “You are a God send“. At the time I did not understand why a doctor would say something like that. After talking to that doctor for about two hours he then sent me on another road trip. This is when I met the staff that cared for Cora; another two hours passed and I have not yet laid eye on Cora, but my Mom had. Mom met us in the hall, and ask the doctors if they had told me what to expect, of course they had not. The words that my mother would say I do not remember maybe I didn’t even hear them. The reason I know them is because mom make the first entry in the first journal while I was talking to the doctors.

Sept. 19th 1996 “ Rhonda; Cora is a very sick little girl, she is covered from head to toe with hair, she is six months old and weighs about 24 pounds. Cora had a tube coming from her stomach that looks like a hose, a scare that look like she has been cut  in half, and her eyes look lost.” That is what my mother saw and when I look at all the pictures that is how Cora looked.

Here is what I remember; a dark haired baby being given a bath by a nurse, the baby was a little bigger than the rest of the babies that was it. I do remember the nurse saying do you see this baby and I said yes. Then I ask if I could hold her.

For the first 24 hours, I only seen Cora with my Heart, but on the 25th hour my heart let my brain take over That’s when I started demanding. My mom is so funny; I remember her asking where have you been? I believe that Cora and I were wrapped in the arms of God. I did not say that but I sure thought it and believe it to this day.

The first demand was to replace that hose with a feeding button. I was on a time schedule and I was not leaving this hospital without a button. Next I wanted a meeting with everyone the doctors, nurses, health and welfare, and all the powers that be. I never seen so much red tape get cut so fast. I learned every thing I need to know, got all the paperwork done so that I could take Cora home across state lines, got all the medical insurance that I ask for.There was a nurse set up for when I got home,I had all the special needs people that I need to talk to coming on Monday the day after I got home. If I ask for it I got it; Now you out there with children with special needs know this is not how it happens RIGHT. I am thinking gee I’m good, Here is the kicker; the thing that I was not told by those powers in that meeting was they were sending Cora home to die.

That was 13 year’s ago. Needless to say Cora is still here, still has her medical disorder, has a 4.0 grade average and is in the 8th grade. I can’t believe I have stated this all out loud! It still brings tear to my eyes. The pictures in my mind are all so vivid. All those years living on what the doctors and the Navy classified as on the need to know basis.

Cora disorder is caused by a mutation of the Pancreas; she has had all of her pancreas remove except for 2%. Cora's body makes insulin at will and her body does not know how to read the amount of glucose in her blood stream.This illness never goes away, at best she will remain as she is now or she will become insulin dependent with an insulin pump.

Please read what is in your personal care products.

[Queenb03]

Oct. 2, 2009 at 10:02 AM

very beautiful ... story.... on the power of the love of a parent and God.... thank you for sharing

[Lb128f]

Oct. 3, 2009 at 2:59 PM

Cora is beautiful and so are YOU!

[dragonfly55]

Oct. 4, 2009 at 4:13 PM

THANK YOU BOTH so much

(Original Poster)