I have been fortunate enough to have had 3 planned home births, with my middle being a transfer,…read morebut, still natural and free of complications or much intervention. Lucky as I was to have escaped most of the trauma that many women face in hospitals and institutions of the like, I felt this journey would be like any other home birth... and then I met Debbie.
From the first seconds, she embraced what made me offensive to others. She strengthened what I questioned in myself and my own abilities, and she validated me as a mother; a good, strong, smart mother. She supported dreams that others said I may have to sacrifice or give up on. She taught me how to trust my body when everyone else has made me fear that it is broken.
Most of all, she was real, she was present, and she was a source of strength and comfort and support for me that was unlike any other that I have ever had in my life. I could never adequately articulate how important and precious and crucial her love and support was to me, not just in birth, but in the entire journey and the avenues it took even outside of what she signed up to help me with. From the first day, she made herself available to me for anything, at any time. You cannot put a price on that, but, if you could, it would certainly be more than what she charges.
Her honesty is kind and grounding. Her wisdom is deep, vast, and comforting. Her heart is bigger than the universe that tries to contain it. She was someone and something I needed, not just for the birth of my third and last baby, but, a love and strength that I had yet to encounter in my life and I feel God brought me to her for that reason. She gave me a kindness and love and inspiration that only comes from the likes of a mother - and I've never had that. Her care filled voids and healed wounds that I didn't know I still had.
Debbie and Amanda were the candles I was fortunate enough to be able to light, amidst a storm that took my entire mental and physical grid out for months. They kept my head above water and when the light at the end of that tunnel finally started to emerge, they held me up by reminding me of my own strength, marched me forward by teaching me how to trust MYSELF, and they came running in the middle of the night after having had no sleep from a previous birth and still gave me SO much of their time, attention, and love. I was cared for in a way I have never been before. They motivated me to stay strong and have the birth I wanted when I was tired and my will started to shake a little. They caught our sweet Kyrie girl in their wise and precious hands, and then Amanda took her time and allowed my elder two children to meet and hold their sibling while Debbie helped me shower, dried me off, and helped me to bed. They hand-fed me and made sure I was hydrated, they did everything in their power to make me comfortable and safe and confident before leaving me to snuggle my sweet newborn - in my own bed, in my own home, with my own food and my family surrounding me.
They then came back the very next day, with not much more sleep than before, to check on us and ease any worries or concerns that I had.
The way Debbie puts the mental and physical health of her clients above even her own needs, at times, is invaluable and I feel so blessed to have had our paths cross and to have been able to choose her for this baby. There is a love in my soul for her that will last lifetimes beyond my own. She gave me the home birth I have wanted since the first time, but, she also gave me the gift of showing me how to become aware of and grow into the woman that I am, when I've spent pretty much my whole life sort of doubting my strength and instincts and capabilities.
We all love you SO much, and thank you for a stable pregnancy and a successful home birth. You have the BIGGEST piece of my heart and soul, forever.
