Dates

I am blessed with a great memory.  It has been a gift in my career in retail, and now in education.  I remember customers, students, parents, small details in their lives that when I can recall them make them feel special.  I remember the date of my first date with my husband, the date of our first kiss, the date we started fertility treatments, the date of our first son's conception, the dates I found out I was pregnant with each of my children...all of these dates that have had a huge impact on my life.  While this uncanny ability can be a blessing, it also can bring back painful memories of specific dates.  I remember the dates of my two miscarriages, and another one of those dates just passed - January 12.  This is the date I found out about the genetic condition Trisomy 18. I was 17 weeks pregnant with our third child, and had just had my routing triple screen blood work when the clinic called and told me to come in for an ultrasound.  My blood work came back showing a 1:10 chance that my unborn child had this condition, which is generally considered "not compatible with life". Three days later I had that ultra sound which supported their suspicions, and on my son Sean's 9th birthday just 6 days later,  I had an amnio to confirm the diagnosis.  On January 23, it was confirmed that my unborn (son) had Trisomy 18.  Why am I fixated on these dates, still 8 years later? Because just as I can recall all of the earlier happy life moment dates, I can also remember each of the dates that brought me pain.  March 9 is the last day I felt my son Colm move within me... March 12 is when the doctors confirmed that he had passed away...March 16 was the day I delivered my beautiful baby boy...March 22 is the day we said goodbye and buried him.