On June 15, 2012, the wind was blowing up a gale just as it had done almost 42 years before, on the night Rebekah was born. Twigs were flying around like a disintegrating witches broomstick and rose petals were strewn around like confetti.
This could not have been more appropriate, since our daughter had been born in a thunderstorm. Insisting that she wanted another boy Jackie went into labour that August with the backdrop of a truly Gothic sky. Becky is the third of my children, but the first of the daughters whose births I witnessed. I still retain the image of that chubby, sleepy, head, with eyes clenched shut like a dormouse having been disturbed from hibernation, crowned with thick, black, damped down hair. Even more indelibly etched on my memory is her mother’s reaction to being told she had a little girl. When Jackie expresses joy her smile illuminates the room. She gave just such a dazzling smile on that occasion, but it is her voice which will ring in my ears as long as I live. Lingering ever so slightly, lovingly, over the last letter, ‘A girl!’, she cried. She had expressed a wish for another boy because she dared not hope for a girl.
That little girl has always been a determined, caring, and courageous decision maker. Perhaps it was consideration for her Dad that caused her to wait more than thirty years to change the spelling of her name to that which both she and Jackie preferred. I had registered the birth not realising that I had not spelt the name in the way her mother had wanted.
Whilst I was walking through Morden Hall Park Rebekah was on the operating table in St. George’s Hospital undergoing potentially life-enhancing treatment which is not without its risks. The spelling of her name had been a decision that changed her signature. The current day’s implementation of a far more courageous one possibly changed and extended her life. That is why my thoughts were of her, not of a walk in the park.
Jackie and I collected our granddaughter, Flo, from school in Mitcham in a raging tempest and drove her to visit her mother in St. George’s Hospital, Tooting. By the time we arrived at the hospital the rain had ceased for the day, but the powerful wind continued so as to put the World Cup supporters’ flags flying from Mitcham’s bedroom windows seriously at risk.
A drugged and drowsy post-operative Becky largely dozed through our visit but still managed to display flashes of her trademark witty humour, such as fixing her mother with one eye when she disapproved of what had been said, or placing her small cardboard vomit repository on her head as a makeshift hat. When a pharmacist with a foreign accent was trying to find out from the rest of us what, if any, medication she was on and whether she had any allergies she opened both eyes, removed her oxygen mask and pronounced something unpronounceable followed by ‘and no’, thus quite lucidly answering both questions.
Sounds like a chip off……
She is the most like me, Sheree. Thank you for noticing
How could I not?
🙂
The baby had an incredible head of hair
Glad to hear both continue to do well.
The baby had an incredible head of hair
Glad to hear both continue to do well.
Thank you so much, Pat
I was trying to work out whether the hair of baby Rebekah was actually something behind her head, or whether she did indeed have an enormous amount of hair.
I’m delighted her surgery in 2012 was successful.
She did indeed have the hair, Sue. Thank you very much
Wow!
Jackie is just glowing in that photo!
Yes, indeed. Thanks a lot, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Jackie’s smile is truly wonderful, Derrick. It shines through here, on your blog whenever she appears. Becky is a courageous and fiesty lady. She reminds me of my own daughter… ?
Thank you so much, Sandra
I am enjoying your life story. Looking forward to more.
The joy Jackie expressed upon the arrival of your daughter echoes mine: after two sons, I hardly dared to hope for a daughter (we couldn’t tell then!!) and I recall being flooded with a hitherto unknown joy at discovering that our Cathy had arrived. You tell a story so well – loved your introduction!
Thank you so much, Anne. We couldn’t tell then, either 🙂
Our eldest daughter had thick hair like that when she was born. Beautiful story of your daughter’s birth. I especially liked “Twigs were flying around like a disintegrating witches broomstick.” What a great description!
Wonderful photos, Derrick! I am enjoying reading about your life, so interesting! Like other comments say, that head of hair is amazing! ❤️
Thank you so much, John
She had a lot of hair for a newborn.
She did, indeed, Mrs W. Thank you very much
Your welcome.
I thought my son had a l head of hair when he was born, but this one puts him to shame! Was quite a day for all of you I see!
Thank you so much, GP
It’s a joy following your life’s journey 🙂
Thank you so much, Rosaliene X
Another moving episode, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Susan
This photo bring the joy-tears to my eyes! 🙂 Jackie’s infectious smile! Becky’s sweet face! Your words so beautifully describing Becky’s birth!
And love reading the memories and how rain/storms were present. I find rain a good sign/omen!
Becky, and her life, is the rainbow after the storm! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Thank you so much, Carolyn. Your last sentence is so true X
That’s very cool that you were able to be there for her birth, Derrick. Your memories add so much to the story. “A girlllll” Just precious. That photo, of Jackie, with her cheeks flushed with exertion and love, and her beloved daughter holding her finger, is priceless.
Thank you so much, Jodie X
<3
I wouldn’t have guessed what was coming when I read: “Twigs were flying around like a disintegrating witches broomstick and rose petals were strewn around like confetti.” an attention getter. Could have even been a great opening to a story of the Wizard of Oz.
Thanks very much, Chrissy. I thought of the Wizard of Oz, too.
I don’t remember much of my children’s births but my husband and I were in the delivery room when my daughter gave birth to her first daughter. That I will always remember! A moving experience seeing a little one face the world for the first time. ?
Indeed, AnneMarie. I’m pleased to have stirred that memory. Thank you very much
Giving birth and witnessing the birthing process are the most wonderful and exciting things in the world. I love this photo, especially the hands.
I took a few, and chose that one for the hands, JoAnna. Thanks very much.
Such an amazing post about the sparkling pair of mother and daughter. May God bless the family.
Thank you so much, Uma
We also believe that changing a name of a person or adding another name changes the luck of a patient for the better.
Thanks very much, Dolly. A nice point
My pleasure, Derrick.
I love your description of Jackie’s reaction. We see that famous smile in your photos, and I can tell from them how it lights up a room. I echo others with my amazement of newborn Becky’s full head of hair. My older child was pretty much bald until they were a toddler–then the curls came!
So, interesting about the change in name spelling. Perhaps Kool Kosher Kitchen is correct. And of course, I’m glad all went well with Becky in the storm (both times).
Thank you so very much, Merril
You’re welcome, Derrick.
Leaving aside the 58 intervening years Rebekah shares my birthday.
Thanks a lot, Andrew
I always loved Jackie’s smile. It’s indeed infectious.
Thanks very much, Bridget
That is a very beautiful photo of Jackie and Becky, Derrick, and an equally lovely accounting of Becky’s entrance into this world!
Thank you so much, Lavinia
A happy family ? Jackie seems really happy in the photo and Rebekah is a cute little baby with an enormous amount of hair indeed ?
Thank you so much, Ribana
Wow Rebekah had quite a lot of hair. It reminds me of my daughter Lea who also had a lot of hair and was so rosy-cheeked when she came out. Jacky’s smile is beautiful, from youth to now, as lovely as ever.
Thank you so much, Geetha
Most welcome Derrick