April the 4th of 1977 was a Monday, the second
day of Passover. I was 28 weeks into what had been a mostly uneventful
pregnancy. About two weeks earlier I felt what I’ve always called, using parlance
stolen from a popular movie released later that year, a “tremor in the Force.”
I called my obstetrician who suggested I come in, and by then my blood pressure,
which had been normal, was quite elevated. Within one week I was admitted to
the hospital with epigastric pain, a rather dire symptom of severe pre-eclampsia.
In these cases, the outlook is not great for either the baby or the mother, but
after a few days with increasingly severe symptoms a decision was made to
deliver the baby. This little girl came into the world weighing just 1090
grams, 2 lbs. 7 oz.
We were fortunate to be at an excellent medical facility,
The University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital. Those early weeks were
quite a roller coaster ride but little Simmie was a fighter. And here we are, a
mere forty years later, still celebrating our little miracle.
In Simmie’s honor, we sponsored a surprise Kiddush (refreshments after Shabbat services) and I am proud of the
girls for keeping the secret. Here is a picture of the sheet cake we served.
And here is a picture of a tee shirt I could not resist buying for our birthday girl. Leave it to Simmie to point out that, technically, she was “made” in 1976, not 1977! I just love that wry sense of humor.
In the Jewish tradition, Moses was said to have died at the ripe old age of 120, at which “his eye had not dimmed, and his vigor had not diminished.” For this reason, Jews commonly wish one another that they should live until 120. Simmie, you’re 1/3 of the way there!
Love,
Mom/Rebecca
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