Our Gift
By Jennifer Erwin

The Rogers' had always wanted children, unfortunately all their attempts for a natural or inseminated conception proved unsuccessful. Adoption was the only logical next step for them. After much paper work, many sleepless nights and what seemed an eternity of time, the Rogers got the call telling them a baby was waiting. "What? Say that again please," Mrs. Rogers said with a quiver in her voice. "There's a baby waiting for you Jane," the case worker repeated. Jane, feeling safe to finally breathe and accept the mans' words, let out a joyful scream, "Mark! Mark there's a baby, they have a baby for us!"

Mr. Rogers rushed in holding one sock in an attempt to continue dressing himself during the excitement. "What was that?" he asked apprehensively. Jane saw the longing to be happy but worried to get his hopes up look in his eyes and she understood. Together they had been through so much of an emotional roller coaster waiting for a child. Despite all these feelings, this was it, she felt it within the depths of her soul. She placed a gentle hand on her husbands' shoulder and said, "Our baby is waiting for us Mark." "Our baby? She's here? She's finally here?" he asked, tears swelling in his eyes. "Yes she's here," Jane confirmed matching his tears. The weeks went by fast.

Jane, Mark and little Paige fit into their roles as a family nicely. The blue-eyed angel was very much loved and cherished by the pair. Kisses and cuddles were shared at every opportunity. Jane had even enrolled her and Paige into the local Mommy and Me group for new mothers and their babies.

Beautiful Paige. She had the darkest patch of hair on that tiny little head of hers and those fingers! Jane was awestruck when Paige curled them around her own finger. She surrendered when she held her, what a gift she was. Her little neck was so tiny and fragile. Every time she gazed into her daughters' eyes it was as if she was saying, "I trust you, I know you will take care of me." Jane loved her so much. That's why when Paige began her constant screaming, Jane was so distraught. They tried everything to appease their new little one, but to no avail. "What are we doing wrong? A guilty and frustrated Jane asked. "Maybe she hates me," she cried to Mark. Mark assured her she was loved very much by Paige and convinced her that they would receive an answer from the doctor in the morning. He showed a brave face for his wife but he had his concerns as well. He just wanted to hold his little girl and be able to calm her crying.

In the morning the pediatrician gave Paige a full examination finding nothing out of the norm. "It could just be that she is a colicky baby," the doctor finally declared. They were quickly briefed on the condition and taught the most comforting positions to hold little Paige. Medicine was also prescribed to ease her predicted abdominal pain. Then they were sent on their way. "Colic is pretty normal right?" Jane asked Mark. "I guess so," An unsure Mark answered. Although the thought of her little Paige in pain all this time disturbed her, Jane felt relieved that there was a name for what she was going through and thankful for some tips in treating it. She got to work right away perfecting the "football" holding positions, accurate medicine measurements and even went online researching the ailment.

The next week found the Rogers just as tired and perplexed as before. "I just want her to be ok and to sleep," A very tired Jane sobbed. It was 3:30 a.m. and Paige was screaming just as loud as she had 45 minutes ago. Jane felt like a zombie walking to the nursery. She could barely keep her eyes open and her head felt so heavy on her neck. "Ok, ok, Mommy's here," she sang softly to Paige. They did their usual tread up and down the hallway, Paige hugging Jane as tight as a bear until she finally fell back to sleep. "Now the hard part," Jane thought. She quietly tip-toed back to the nursery holding her breath so the wind wouldn't disturb Paige from her slumber, then gently lay the sleeping child back in her crib. Back in her room she collapsed onto her own bed declaring tomorrow at Mommy and Me she would find an answer to comforting Paige, then fell fast asleep.

The morning was bright and sunny consuming Jane with optimism. She listened intently to all the other mothers bragging on their babies until finally it was her turn. "Will they think I'm the worst mother in the world because I don't know how to stop my baby from crying?" Jane worried to herself. "Um well, Paige is so wonderful and we love her to death. She's almost holding the bottle all on her own now," she began. "But we do have a concern..." she said. The mothers ears perked up and all eyes were on Jane, something she hated but she continued for her little girls sake. "If you haven't already noticed, Paige cries ALOT. I'm not able to put her down very often without her shrieking. We went to the pediatrician but he said she's just colicky. All the positions and medicines he suggested are just not working and I am exhausted," Jane said breaking into tears. All the mothers quickly rushed to her side sharing hugs and their own "tricks". "Have you tried taking her to the chiropractor? Quiet Patricia asked. "The chiropractor? You can't take babies to the Chiropractor can you?" Jane asked. She was shocked just thinking about someone cracking Paige’s little bones. "Oh yes, they do it all the time now, it's very safe," another mother spoke up. Jane sat through the rest of the group pondering the suggestion of a chiropractor.

Later that afternoon she spoke with Mark and they both agreed to check it out.

Paige’s appointment with recommended Chiropractor, Dr. Lee was very personal. Jane didn't hide her worry expression a bit when Dr. Lee gently pushed on her daughters' spine. "Hmm, oh yes, um feel right here," he instructed them. "Do you feel this space here?" he asked guiding their hands over Paige's neck. They both felt it. "Is she ok?" Jane asked. "Yes but she has a subluxated vertebra. By any chance were forceps used on her at birth?" he asked. "Um, yes I believe her birth mother needed forceps, is that a problem?" Jane asked. "Well I find these cases all the time in babies and children. The forceful pulling on the neck moves these vertebrae out of alignment you see, we can help her though" he explained. We can help her, we can help her. Those words made Jane feel so wonderful inside not just that now maybe she could get more than an hour at a time of sleep but that Paige will feel better. She cringed as the doctor swiftly popped their daughters bones back into their proper places then hugged her close calming the cries. After a moment Paige's cries stopped and she stared contently up at her mother and father. Jane knew then that their daughter was going to be ok. "Your wonderful," she told Dr. Lee. "Ah it's my gift," he replied with a grin. "That it is," Mark replied, "it's so nice to have special gifts," He said gently rubbing Paige’s head.





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