As the holiday gets closer, Raphaela becomes more excited about all aspects of Chanukah, though I have not introduced her specifically to the Israeli jelly doughnut concept. She found a beautifully decorated dreidel that I had put on a high shelf, and immediately wanted to play, and I felt the completion of the circle that started with my fertility treatments.
On Chanukah in 2008, I attended the Bat Mitzvah of a freind's daughter, in the Old City of Jerusalem. I knew that in a few days I would have my final IUI treatment, before Hadassah Hospital would force me to switch me over into the IVF route. I wanted and needed this IUI procedure to work, after a year of hits and misses and several miscarriages. Taking the opportunity, I went to the Western Wall after the Bat Mitzvah, and had a serious conversation with G-d and the Universe. I informed all beings present -supernatural and otherwise -that this would be The One, this would be the IUI that not only got me pregnant, but stuck around for nine months and delivered a healthy baby.
On the way home, I bought the dreidel, in honor of the holiday and as the first present for my future daughter.
The IUI took place on January 1, 2009, and on October 2, 2009, Raphaela came into the world, bringing with her more joy and light and happiness than I ever could have imagined.
May we all be blessed with joy and light, friends and family, in this holiday season. Chag Sameach!
1 comment:
What a beautiful post. DD was born three weeks before Chanukah in December 2008 and I gave her the Teddy Bear that I'd bought the day after the post-IVF transfer, bought because this time it absolutely had to happen and, as you say, stick around the full nine months.
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