The Little Girl Who Was Almost
(as told by her proud mother)
This is the story of my baby girl's entrance into this world at CHURCH CAMP. Although she was not born at the camp, that is where I went into labor with her. We went to Thorp Springs Christian Camp, Granbury, TX with the church group from Everman, TX in the summer of 1982. My husband was a counselor for the boys, and I was helping in the kitchen with my parents. Samantha’s grandparents, my sisters and I had worked several summers at ACYC (Arlington Christian Youth Center) as cooks when I was a teenager.
To look at her today, you would not have believed she came into this world 6 ½ weeks premature weighing only 4 lbs., 14 oz. and measuring 17 inches long! I went to the doctor prior to leaving for camp and got an okay that all was fine and going along as scheduled. In fact, we had only attended one Lamaze class, and I only knew one type of ‘breathing’ for the entire labor and delivery!
During the day Tuesday at camp, I sat on the steps of the pool getting some sun. Doreen Pigg & Colleen Moore shared their labor and delivery stories with me. A few hours later, to my dismay, I found I had gotten way more sun than I had bargained for. My legs were bright red and very painful. Of course, this would soon be forgotten and replaced with a much more important concern!
On Tuesday evening (actually Wednesday morning) after midnight, I woke up to discover that my water had broken. My daddy went to the boys cabin to wake up Mike and tell him we needed to get to the hospital. He really didn’t have to wake him up because Mike had JUST gone to bed after staying up with the boys.
It was an hour’s drive to the hospital, and when we arrived there were lots of doctors and nurses tending to me. They, of course, were very concerned with the premature labor, but it could not be stopped at this point. My parents stayed throughout the night. My mom was especially excited about becoming a Mamaw before she turned 40. She turned a very young 39 the day after Sam’s arrival. Of course, since Sam’s birth, Mamaw’s birthday has since taken a backseat!
Back at camp was a different story. The news of Sam’s impending birth spread quickly and soon prayers were being lifted all over. Her Aunt Cindi was a counselor at the time (her Aunt Cristi was a camper). Aunt Cindi thought it was a ‘false alarm’ after my hearing Doreen & Colleen’s stories earlier that day. In the early morning, I’m told the entire camp met under the tabernacle and joined hands for a giant prayer chain. Every activity that day was begun with a special prayer for me, Mike & Samantha.
Of course, we had no idea how long labor would be, but figured it might be awhile. Another factor in this is that my daddy was the cook for the camp. Mae Ray & Genie Maddox (two church ladies - and close family friends - taking over for him) were very concerned about preparing breakfast without my daddy – and they weren’t sure how they would fair without him.
Samantha’s papaw is famous for his excellent cooking, and homemade biscuits were on the menu for Wednesday morning’s meal. Mae was awake all night worried how they would pull off making homemade biscuits. She was trying to think of the closest grocery store that would have enough canned biscuits – just in case.
There were numerous calls back and forth from the hospital to the camp regarding my well-being, the baby and, of course, the biscuit issue. Finally, daddy went back to Granbury, prepared breakfast and set everything out they would need for lunch. He was so concerned Sam would arrive in the couple of hours he was gone.
Samantha has been a people-pleaser from the beginning – she was kind enough to wait for her Papaw’s return to the hospital and was born at 12:52 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. Mamaw was so happy to have another ‘little girl’ to go shopping for again. She also had a TON of pictures by the time Sami was brought home. Aunt Cindi & Aunt Cristi were VERY UPSET they were unable to go to the hospital until later Wednesday evening. Aunt Cindi remembers seeing a face mask tied around Sam’s tiny bottom instead of a diaper – the preemie diapers would fall off!
Although she was tiny, and initially hooked up to all kinds of wires and machines, she came home within one week - weighing only 4 ½ lbs. Since Sam was so tiny and premature, the doctor advised that no one except parents & grandparents be allowed to hold her until after she was two weeks old. We were advised not to take her to church or other public places until she was six weeks old.
She continued to grow and thrive (rather slowly at first) and has become a beautiful young woman. Samantha’s servant heart and sweet spirit only adds to her beauty. Her commitment to God can surely be attributed to the many fervent prayers offered on her behalf during her eventful delivery. All are blessed who know her. I know that God gave me the most precious gift of all when He sent me Samantha.
HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY SAMANTHA!!!
Yes - she's heard this story MANY times. In fact I read it to her in front of her friends when Papaw & I drove up to surprise her at Copper Basin Camp when she was in college. But that's what happens, and it's a mother's prerogative to get to tell it over & over again...
