My Birth Daughter's Annual Birthday Letter by Terri Rimmer

August 7, 2017

Dear McKenna:

Your annual birthday letter is here once again and in eight days you’ll be turning 17.

Without fail, you continue to do great things and amaze me and everyone around you.

This past Christmas time was such a miracle when you no longer had to depend on using a feeding tube for the first time since you were a toddler.

That was a big prayer answered!

I want you to know that no matter what anxiety you ever feel on any given day that you are bigger than it and that it doesn’t subtract from who you are as a person – EVER. I know that you can overcome anything and you’ve proven it.

I’m proud beyond belief of you and you are always in my thoughts, prayers, daydreams, and often – dreams.

I write a lot about you because I’m inspired to do it.

Your spirit, drive, and courage give me the same strength.

You come from a long line of survivors who have the same attitude when it comes to not stopping and going after what you want.

I’ve been thinking a lot the last few days about the day you were born and about what a wild day it was.

I went into labor during one of my favorite shows, “The Practice,” and I went downstairs to the hotel receptionist who asked, “Are you okay?” 

I said, “I’m in labor” and she said, “Oh my God!” and called me a cab.

I remember as soon as I started going into labor I called Zona, my caseworker who called Vicki and Larry and they got in the car and rushed to the hospital.

Then by the time I got to the hospital the Democratic National Convention was on. I was so medicated that I was cracking all these jokes and my best friend and one of my labor coaches, Stephanie was cracking up.

I was silly all night with those jokes.

The next day when you were born Stephanie watched the whole C-section and I later asked her, “How could you watch that?” to which she replied, “It was interesting” because she likes stuff like that.

I remember Dr. Peter Irwin, my doctor, lifting you up and proclaiming, “Baby girl” and the tech rushing you over to an incubator.

Stephanie was snapping pictures like crazy.

Later Vicki and Larry fussed over you and we all took pictures along with some of the birth moms visiting from Gladney and with Stephanie holding you.

The birth moms just adored you.

In the nursery you were surrounded by boys – smack dab in the middle.

The nurses said I had to exercise because of my procedure so I would walk every chance I was able down the long hall to the maternity ward to see you with anticipation. I would have done this anyway because I wanted to see you.

I remember your little hat and how you were the only baby girl on the ward.

Each trip I couldn’t wait to see your little face and gaze at you.

And now, here you are, turning 17 August 15!

I still wish I could buy you Barbies.

I love you and I hope you have a great birthday.

Love, Terri