FOOTPRINTS ON OUR HEARTS!!!!!!

Today, I want to get on my soapbox and preach.

We all have had a tough week at work.
Worse than tough.
Devastating.
We had a mother die after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl.
It was no one's fault.
She died because she was sick.
She had heart disease.
It was her fault.
Now, I know that may sound cruel.
And now begins my rant.

Get prenatal care.
It is 9 months out of your life.
9 months.
And it's not just your life.
It is the life of an innocent child.

This woman had not seen a doctor in 16 years.
For any reason.
Not before she got pregnant.
Not after.
She was going to give the baby up for adoption.
She did not tell her family she was pregnant.
She was not a teenager.
She was a 30 something year old woman.
She died when we were doing her c-section.
She was in trouble going into the surgery.
We had to get the baby out.
However, she died during the surgery.
And she was revived.
A few times.
And she was alive coming out of surgery.
But her heart was tired.
Period.
She was transferred to a tertiary hospital by helicopter to the heart transplant unit in the middle of the night.
It was however, too late.
Her poor heart couldn't take it.
Too much damage was done.
NO PRENATAL CARE.

This heart disease could have been diagnosed.
It could have been treated with medications.
She could have had a fighting chance.
But she chose to not get prenatal care.
Now I can't say it would have saved her.
But not getting it ended with her demise.
That precious little girl will now grow up in an adoptive home.
That did not change with her mother's death.
That was her mother's plan.
I hope she never, ever has to know that her mother died giving birth to her.
How do you ever get passed that?
No child should ever hold that kind of responsibility.
EVER.
God bless that child.
Please keep her in your prayers.

The killer of the whole situation is that this woman had insurance.
Great insurance.
But did not go to the doctor.
For whatever reason.
I am not privy to the reasons.
Nor do I want to be.

Now at the risk of sounding uncaring and pissy, it was selfish.
She changed every one's life by not getting prenatal care.
Her daughter's.
Her mother's.
Her siblings.
And the nurses and doctors.
She has changed who we are.
And not only for the better.
She has made me somewhat cynical.
If mother's don't care enough to get medical care, why should we bend over backwards, and get our heart and guts ripped out.
It made us question ourselves.
And we did nothing wrong.
I know that most of the time, not getting care is fear-based.
It also involves denial.
Not wanting to believe that you really are pregnant.
But it changes everyone.

Seriously, to all women out there.
GET PRENATAL CARE.
PLEASE!!!
Take care of yourself.
Take care of your precious baby.
Babies truly are a gift.
Don't take it for granted.
It is the most priceless thing in the world.
And not everyone is given this opportunity.
I know, trust me.