Last week, there were many posts about parents being inhuman

[tavalon]

Let me tell you a different story. It's a story of a young woman who had her first child two days ago. Simple enough story, right? No, not really. See, for about four months now, she has been losing her strength, her balance and has had muscle wasting. We finally figured out four days ago what is wrong with her. She has ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease). It is extremely rare that it happens to women and especially women of childbearing years. She is declining rapidly and almost died during the birth of her child, but she didn't. She might recover from the birth and live for three to five years, but she may well die in the next few days. She found all of this out four days ago.

Last night I watched her hold her newborn child and with what little breath she had, she whispered "I love you" over and over again as she gently stroked her child's face.

I stepped off to the side so she could have her time with her child in private but also so she wouldn't have to cope with my tears. After a while, she looked over at me, smiled just a little, and said, "It's ok".

[fortyfeetunder]

1. What a sad story

Poor woman, for such crushing news on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life. I hope she gets plenty of support to get her through this ordeal.

[undergroundpanther]

2. I wish more parents

Were like her.(not having her illness) But having her priorities. Maybe when you face the prospect of losing what you should value the most for real you find out how precious a child really is.
Sometimes parents take their kids for granted and don't realize they are doing it,but the kid feels it and can't express it.When something as small as a tired temper tantrum in a store makes a parent strike the child they say they love to make it shut up and disappear maybe they should reevaluate priorities..