I couldn't let this day pass without reaching out on a personal note. Today at 1:20 am my husband's sister, brother-in-law, and mother arrived at L&D for the birth of my 3rd nephew. In January of this year, this same sweet family lost their eldest son to a brain tumor just shy of his 4th birthday. This year and pregnancy for my sister-in-law have been a roller coaster - joy and excitement over a new baby closely woven with sadness over not having her oldest son with her to welcome her new son.
This morning, when my family got to L&D, they were met by Mary Ann Ott. I have no idea what my sister-in-law's OB may have put in her chart to alert the L&D staff to their circumstances, but Mary Ann showed up for my sister-in-law in a powerful way and was exactly who she needed through the birth of our new nephew. Mary Ann told her about the death of her own three-year-old son before the birth of her other children and about the beautiful life and family she has had in the years following. She talked all day about the hope that Mary Ann gave her on the first morning of her youngest son's new life. We all appreciate that blessing more than Mary Ann could know. Today my family was truly blessed by Mary Ann's generosity of spirit.