One Extra Month

Linh dreamed about becoming a mother. She spent her life preparing for the life-altering event, and married the perfect person to culminate that dream. But nothing could prepare her for the unexpected news she was given within minutes after delivering her daughter, Lauren. The fictional novel she intended to complete during her maternity leave was quickly put on the back burner as her baby's survival took center stage. Her daughter's anomalies stifled doctors, and kept them at a bedside vigil for weeks learning about her special needs. She felt isolated when her maternal life was far from normal and demanded every minute of her attention, chipping away at other aspects of her life. Lauren's sweet demeanor became the catalyst she relied on to get her through the many days of doctor's appointments and therapy sessions, and difficult feeding dilemmas. The subsequent months were devastating moments of desperation mixed with emotional highs from the joy of parenting. Her journey through the first six months of her daughter's life is a story of triumph she credits to the baby that changed her perspective on life, and serves as an inspiration to every parent and person.