“The baby isn't moving, Breigh. He has been moving all day but he isn't right now…”
“You are okay…” she said. But she didn't sound confident, not in the least. I knew she was trying to comfort me but not too convincingly.
I slowly tried to move to my elbows and lift myself up, and was able to. My head was spinning but I was able to hold myself up. Breigh tried to help prop me up.
The paramedics showed, just as Cash did with fear on his face.
“Emma, what happened?”
He leaned down to me and saw the same thing Breigh had. I followed his eyes and saw the blood that spotted my dress.
“How far along are you?” the paramedic said, getting to work.
“Thirty-nine weeks,” I said.
The paramedic began taking my vital signs and assessing me.
Cash wouldn't let go of my hand. “I tried to stand up to clap when you threw your hat and collapsed.”
He was listening to me, and also the paramedics, taking it all in.
“Is she going to be okay?” he asked them.
“Is my baby okay?” I asked. I wasn't concerned about me. I was worried about my baby.
“It’s heartbeat seems a little slow, so we are going to transport y’all to the hospital.”
I started to cry and Cash pulled me in.
“Don’t let anything happen to my baby… please…” I muttered.
The stretcher was brought over and I was lifted up on it. I felt the warmth between my legs, and tried to reach down when the paramedic placed my hand on my side.
The fear in Cash’s eyes scared me, and I saw them filling with tears.
“We are taking her to Central Memorial. You can follow us.”
His voice got loud, “I’m not leaving her and our baby.”
“We don't let additional people ride in the rig any longer, sir.”
“Bullshit. I’m going. I am not letting them out of my sight for a second.”
He followed us as I was pushed to the ambulance.
They pushed me in, and Cash followed in right after me.
“I’ll be there as soon as you are, Emma,” Breigh said as the doors closed.
I heard her but didn't have time to respond before the door slammed shut.
I closed my eyes because I couldn't watch the paramedic working around me any longer.
I couldn't see Cash’s look of fear and disappointment.
Most of all I couldn't see the blood that was on me, knowing my baby might be in danger and there wasn't anything I could do about it.
32
CASH
I don’t think I have ever prayed in my life as much I had today. At no time did I think I would be at Central Memorial, holding my breath, hitting my knees, and praying that things would be okay. I offered my life, for Him to take me before taking my future wife and my baby.
Wyatt and Breigh were with me the entire time, and I don't know what I would have done without them.
Emma went into labor at my graduation and I was in no way prepared for the complications she was having. She had pushed and pushed and cried and cried. I had been unable to ease her pain, and that in itself hurt.
I wasn’t leaving her side, ever again. My life was nothing without her. I finally understood so much I wished I could have comprehended earlier.
Breigh finally made me leave the room for a bit to regroup and refresh. Things were not progressing like they should and we were going to have a long night ahead of us.
So far, she wasn't dilated like she should have been, or effacing. Thankfully, I knew what they were talking about because of reading a few of the pregnancy books I had bought to be prepared.
“Cash, get in here,” Breigh said in a hurry.
“They are prepping her for a Caesarean section. The baby is under stress now,” Breigh said as calmly as she could, but her eyes said something completely different. She was scared. She walked back over to Emma and held her hand.
“This happens all the time, sweetie,” she said. Breigh had taken over her mother’s role since her mom was not here yet. She had gone on a trip to see Emma’s sister and was on her way home.
I came to her side and saw the pain she was in.
Emma grabbed my hand, “What if our baby…”
“Don’t think that way. Our baby will be fine, great, in fact.”
“What if I’m not okay?”
I leaned in and kissed her forehead as tears fell from her eyes.
I saw Breigh out the side of my eye and saw she had begun crying too. Things were far worse than I knew.
“Everything is going to be okay. Come on… look at all we have been through, and now things are perfect. We are good.”
“I’m scared.” My heart broke. I wanted to tell her I was too, but I couldn’t. I had to be strong for her, for us.
“God is in control, baby. Have faith,” I said the words I hadn't ever spoken but I truly felt them. I was completely helpless and I hated it.
The nurse came to me, handing me a handful of things I needed to don. I was shaking and could hardly hold my hands steady.
“We will get her situated in the OR and I will bring you in once you’re dressed.”
“Please take care of her,” I muttered.
“We will. We do this all the time. One step at a time, okay?”
I nodded my head with a lump in my throat, watching my life wheeled out of the delivery room.
EMMA
I was exhausted and when the doctor held my baby boy up for me to see, I cried. I was numb from my chest down so I couldn't feel anything physically. But I was thankful. I had been in such pain pushing with no progression, then fear set in. I knew Cash and Breigh were just as scared but put on brave faces.
Our baby was handed to Cash and I watched as his face lit up with pride. He leaned