A Dramatic Arrival: The Day We Welcomed Kiser

I took a deep breath, leaned back in the waiting room chair, and slowly exhaled. It felt like the first time I had been able to catch my breath since receiving the call Tiffany was in labor. Not only is this my little sister, but it’s also the first baby to be born into our family

As I looked around the. waiting room, I smiled. I don’t know about you, but it’s very rare to have my entire family within a-hundred-mile-radius, let alone in the same building. Yet, here we are — together, celebrating our newest family member

The locked ‘do not enter unless you are important’ door swung open, and with so much force — it hit the backstop and stuck. It was Mom. She did not scan the room, nor have any emotions on her face. With the utmost authority, she spoke over the entire room, with the same force that shook the door — ”Stephanie!! She is asking for you — NOW!!”

Immediately, I followed

Mom was…running??

As we turned the corner, I ran straight into a group of hospital staff. They were in a hurry, and didn’t seem phased by the collision. I quickly apologized, and did my best to follow Mom

I heard Tiffany say my name. I pushed through the crowd, and came face to face with her… It was not the beautiful and joyful face I was expecting… it was a face filled with fear

“On your knees!! Get on your knees!!” I looked back — a woman in scrubs was pushing through the same crowd I just had, and was yelling at my sister — ”Get on your knees!!”

Without hesitation, Tiffany crawled from the bed to the gurney. I watched as her face ‘changed’… As I tried to grasp what was happening, the fear drained from her face, and maternal determination took over

Before I knew it, she was on her hands and knees, and the medical team was rushing the gurney down the hall. “Tiffany — what do I do?!”, I asked, not so calmly, as I rushed to stay beside her. She turned her head, looked me straight in the eyes, and said “Stay…”

I watched in amazement as the locked doors opened for us, without hesitation, as we made it to each one. By the third locked door, I saw what was happening. At each door, a nurse took charge, ran ahead to the locked door, and had it opened by the time Tiffany reached it

‘SURGERY’ was plastered across the next set of locked doors in bright, bold, red

My heart sunk

They wheeled Tiffany to a large metal table, and quickly had her lay flat on her back. She was shivering, not from the stainless-steel, but from fear

As I stood inside the surgery room, still — almost frozen in time, I watched a piece of my heart, thrash in agony

Iodine splashed everywhere… carts of tools were shoved to each corner of the table… lights!! the number of lights concentrated on her… the short, but intense shouts of instructions…

My head was spinning

A nurse came to me, and as calmly as she could — asked me to leave. “No…” — I said, quietly

A second nurse came over, and asked for me to go be with my family. With every bit of respect I could muster, I said “No…she told me to stay…”

They both nodded with understanding, and one asked “Would you mind standing behind the glass door? You will still be here, and will still be able to hear us.”. Without hesitation, I took four steps back, and they slid the glass door shut

As they did, Tiffany screamed in pain — the first cut had been made

A cold chill ran through every bone in my body

As I watched, my heart wrenched in pain, realizing that iodine was not the only red spilling to the floor

The screams stopped… My heart stopped…

“Is she?! Is she…?!”…

A nurse from the observation room ran to me, and said “No… the pain was too much — she is still here…”

The blood… the constant movement of lights, tools, trays… it was overwhelming

Still, no movement from Tiffany

One nurse rushed from the room

The observation nurse softly touched my arm, and said “That’s your nephew, would you like to go be with him and your family?”

A cold chill rushed over me

“No… I am staying with her…”

Still, no movement from Tiffany

Minutes later, like a choreographed exit, every member of the surgical team walked through the sliding glass door, grabbed their gloves, covered with my sisters blood, and threw them harshly towards an open bin

I broke… I had lost my sister,..

Cold chills shook my entire body, uncontrollable tears fell, and my heart wrenched in pain

The observation nurse grabbed both of my arms, pulled my face to hers, and said “Do you know what that means?!”

I couldn’t even open my eyes, let alone speak…

She shook me…

I tried to open my eyes, but the tears were burning, and I could barely make out the blur of her silhouette

She shouted — ”That means.. HELL YEAH — - WE DID IT!!!!!!”

In that moment, I fell to my knees

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Happy Birthday, Kiser -

You made one hell of an entrance, and have had me as putty in your hands since the day you arrived