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Myra started nursing school at the tender age of 33. She loved her classes and graduated with almost a perfect grade point average. People marveled at her dedication. She was a great student!

But Myra would correct them. Although she had been fiercely dedicated to her studies, it wasn't such that she would consider herself a great student. It wasn't the studying that helped her. It was Linny who had taught Myra so much.

Linny was Myra's daughter. Myra and her husband Jaime had been so happy to know they were going to have a child. This child had been eagerly anticipated by them and their huge extended family. It now seemed like an eternity but it hadn't been so long ago ...

Myra had problems at the end of her pregnancy. Her water broke and Jaime rushed her to the hospital. She had no contractions. Without examining her, the doctor on call told Myra to go home and wait for contractions. But they never came.

Her regular doctor called Myra the next afternoon. When he heard what happened, he insisted she come in immediately. He was furious! The baby was in distress; she was delivered by emergency Cesarean section. Things did not look good for Linny; she was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Linny's years were difficult. The initial reports called her level "profound." A steady procession of nurses and respite care workers paraded through the house in regular intervals. Myra hardly ever left Linny's side. She couldn't leave anything unnoticed or unchecked. That one mistake by the doctor had caused Linny to have severe brain damage due to cerebral palsy.

Myra could not allow anyone else to make another mistake. She watched everything, becoming good friends with the nurses who took exceptional care of her daughter. Myra learned all she could about Linny, her condition, and her care. She became well versed in medical supplies, medications, procedures, and diagnostic information. She was on top of everything that affected Linny. She felt it only natural to use her knowledge to become a nurse. She would dedicate the rest of her professional life to children with disabilities.

Their lives had settled into a routine. Jaime worked during the day; Myra took an evening shift at the skilled nursing facility down the road. They were able to be with Linny as much as they needed to be. They felt they had a good life under the circumstances.

But something was missing. They wanted to have another child. Would this happen again? The doctor said they would be monitored more closely than other mothers and the chances were one in a billion that anything like this would recur. But Myra wanted to find peace about Linny's place if another child was brought into the house. Jaime had always wanted a house full of children, but he never pushed Myra. He knew the toll Linny's care took on her and on their lives.

Just after Linny's eighth birthday, Myra took Linny in her arms. Careful not to jiggle the feeding tube, Myra held Linny close to her, rocking her. She spoke to her softly, feeling Linny's muscles relaxing. Linny knew her mother's voice. She knew Myra's constant touch.

Myra whispered to Linny that if God would grant her mommy and daddy more children, Linny would still always be their special child. No matter who would come after Linny, Linny was their first, their princess, their gift from God. Myra felt she needed assurance from Linny.

Myra became pregnant again. She came to Linny's room to share the news. Myra took her in her arms and rocked her ever so slowly. Daily, she would share what has happening to her. "This will be your little sister or brother, you know."

Myra held Linny more often these days. She felt she needed approval somehow. She had prayed for a sign that Linny was okay with the news. On one such occasion, when Myra was three and a half months pregnant, she tiptoed into Linny's room. The nurse had just suctioned out her tracheotomy. Myra cried as she held Linny. She reminded her again that Linny was her special child, her first, her gift. She gently put Linny's limp hand on Myra's growing tummy. She hugged her tight.

And as she held Linny, Myra saw Linny smile. Linny looked straight at her mother and for the briefest instant, smiled. As Myra held her daughter, Linny took her last breath. Peacefully, Linny's body relaxed and the life went out of her. Yet there was life in Myra and for the first time, she felt movement within her womb.

Myra will always miss Linny. She talks about Linny often to her two small children. The twins know they have a big sister who went to heaven just five months before they were born.

Myra has a peace about her as she watches her twins grow up. She will always miss Linny. But she will always be grateful for Linny's brief life, her inspiration, and her special place.