Happy Birthday Emily

Boy do children grow up fast. It doesn't seem like it has been 24 years ago that Emily came into our lives. She had a rocky start, but came out on top.

Did I ever tell you the story of how she got her name? Ellen and I found out we were pregnant almost at the same time. We used to talk on the phone about it and one day I shared with her the thought that I just didn't think I could have this baby. Little did I know what was ahead. I began to have dreams of things about the baby and troubles that we were having. I dreamed that I couldn't have her. I dreamed that after she was born that I couldn't get her to eat. And in another of my dreams, Mama had come to visit us while we were staying with Mrs. Wanda. She came into the bedroom where I was and I held up the baby to her and told her "Mama, this is our little Emily." I got her name from my dreams. Amazing, huh? In this same dream I actually saw what Emily looked like. I believe now that these dreams were the Lords way of preparing me for what was ahead.

On March 15th, we got a call that Ellen had gone into labor and was in the hospital. That same night I went into labor too. Cliff was on evening shift and was just leaving for work. I had that feeling, so I told him to stay close to the phone. Sure enough, less than an hour later, I knew I was in labor. We were staying with Mrs. Wanda and Mr. Clifford. I went into her room and called her name and immediately she sat up in bed and said, "I'm ready." We called Cliff, the doctor, Mama and so forth. By 1 a.m. we were well on our way to Charleston. To make a long story short, I was in labor at least 16 hours when Dr. Pruitt came in and suggested we take some x-rays. Turns out that I couldn't dilate past 2 centimeters. My pelvis was just to small to have this baby. So he explained that we needed to do a C-section. (First dream, coming true). March 16th - I had the section and when I was in recovery the nurse that was trying to wake me up kept asking, "Mrs. Cox, do you know that you had a girl?" When I finally woke up enough to comprehend what she was saying, I asked "Did they cut her?" That was my main concern at the time. The nurse, kind of dumb-founded by my question said, "No, I don't think so." When they brought her to me later and I laid my eyes on her all I could do was drop my mouth open. I had seen this baby before! Then I remembered....I saw her in my dreams. She looked exactly like in my dreams! Oh man, this was getting crazy. That was a long night y'all. The next morning, the doctor came in and told me there was a problem. As he was explaining to me that there was some kind of blockage and that they needed to send her to MUSC to find out what, I began to have what I felt like was an outer body experience. He asked me if there was anyone he could call. I got Cliff on the phone and remember telling him that the doctor wanted to talk to him and not to drive too fast. As the doctor was explaining the situation to him, still having that outer body feeling, I saw someone appear behind the doctor. As I looked on, with my mouth wide open at this point, I knew who it was. I am telling you the truth. It was Jesus! I saw Him in a white robe with a glowing light behind Him. And when He spoke to me, I instantly became calm. He told me, "You don't have to worry, everything is going to be okay." Then He was gone. From that moment on and for all that we went through, I didn't worry. Because I knew and believed just what Jesus had told me. You all know that Emily was born with TE Fistula and had an operation at 2-days-old. The next 2 weeks were a blur - going back and forth to the hospital. But then we got to bring her home. I was determined to nurse her. I had pumped the whole 2 weeks prior. But by this time she was so used to the nipple from the hospital that I had problems getting her to nurse. (Another dream came true!)

From that time forward, she continued to improve. We had our ups and downs, feeding tubes coming out, having to hold her up for one hour after she ate, all the times she got food hung at the site where they had to sew her esophagus back together, etc. But she did continue to improve. And today, you wouldn't even know that she went through all of that unless you saw her battle scars.

She is a strong girl, that Emily. She has always known what she wanted and didn't stand still until she got it. She is so smart and compassionate. Nursing was what she was created for, I believe. Not to mention giving me my two wonderful grandchildren. Cliff and I are so proud of her and all that she has accomplished in her short 24 years. And through everything, I have always relied on that promise made to me 24 years ago...."Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.!"

Emily - Your daddy and I wish for you all the peace, joy and love that you can possibly stand. We hope that your future with your family is as wonderful as ours has been. We love you. Happy Birthday!