could give her child something no one else ever could… a better life than she
had. Melanie’s heart beats close to mine as I hold her and tell her how great
she performed. She wiggles in my arms and looks up at me. “Why are you
crying, Mommie?”
I answer her, “Because I am so happy for you and you did so good, all by
yourself!” I can feel myself reach out with tendrils of love and hold her with
more than just my arms. I hold her with love for not only myself, but for the
beautiful and courageous woman who chose to give birth to my daughter,
and then chose again to give her to me. I carry the love from both of us… the
birth mother with the courage to share, and the woman whose empty arms
were filled with love… for the heartbeat that we share is one.
- Patty Hansen
