McKinley's Birth Story

McKinley Kea Hafen

Born July 24, 2008 (Pioneer Day) in Anchorage, Alaska.
Birth time: 12:19 pm.
Weight 7lbs. 15 oz.
Height: 20 1/2 inches.

Proud Parents: Ray and Kary Hafen

Journal Entry by: Kary Hafen

On July 24, 2008, at 7:30 in the morning, I woke up with severe back pain. I decided I would soak in a hot bath to soothe the discomfort. The pain began to move to the front of my stomach. I had just been to the Dr. the day before and we were scheduled to meet her to be induced on July 30, 2008. Ray and I decided we should call my Dr.s office at 9:00 am. since the pain remained. The nurse there encouraged me to get to the hospital to be monitored. The pain was constant. I remembered what contractions had felt like prior to giving birth to Stephen, but this was level 10 agony from the beginning. Our drive to Providence Hospital in Anchorage would take about 45 minutes. I considered just having Ray take us to Mat-su Regional Hospital since it was much closer, but we both felt like we needed Dr. Merkouris to deliver McKinley.

The long drive was the most miserable journey I have yet to experience. The pain would not let up and I closed my eyes and just prayed that we'd make it in time. I didn't open my eyes the entire drive there because I didn't want to know how much longer we had to go. I threw up all over the blanket which was covering me. I was shivering and shaking. I asked Ray if we would make it to the hospital in time and he said: "yes."

As we drove into the parking lot of Providence Hospital, Ray put me in a wheel chair and got me into the Maternity Center. He told the ladies at the desk that he thought I was in labor. They checked me right into triage and discovered that McKinley's heart rate was extremely high. She was beginning to panic because the placenta had abrupted. This means that her life support system within my body was detaching from her and her little life was at risk. Dr. Merkouris arrived within minutes and scheduled me for an emergency C-section. As she looked me in the eyes prior to surgery and explained what needed to happen, I told her it would be ok and that I would be praying for her. She told me that was all she needed. I also reassured Ray that this was the right thing to do. He got dressed for the operating room and met me at my side to hold my hand while the Dr.'s and nurses proceeded to bring McKinley safely into the world.

As I lay on the operating table, I experienced a glimpse of Gethsemane. My arms were strapped down as if I were on a cross. My mind thought of the Savior on the cross. He was willing to give His life on the cross so I could come into this world. Now, I was on 'my cross' waiting to be 'delivered.' I would have given my life for McKinley to receive her life. I'm grateful that was not the Lord's plan because I love being her mother. I felt the Savior's presence in the room as I remembered Him. We are promised that we will always have His Spirit if we always remember Him. I am grateful His Spirit attended me on this sacred day.

The next day, in my hospital room, I pondered on the Savior's love and how He gives us life and allows us to live again. I applied His love to the power and privilege of parenthood. After bringing our children into the world, sometimes we have to watch them struggle as they strive to make correct choices. We must become their "Savior's" so that we can help them live again. I believe we have that ability.

I have discovered that by being a parent, my capacity to love has become greater and more pure. When Jesus beheld the little ones, he wept. I have wept over my children as my heart has filled with the purest love available to us. The Savior's love. This is the answer to all of our heartaches and righteous desires for our little ones. I now devote my life to loving Heavenly Father's children as He loves them. I am grateful He sent His Son so that I could have a son and a daughter to hold and cherish with the Savior's love.

Being the mother of Stephen and McKinley has brought me inexpressible joy. Even though we must travel down some rugged roads to reach our joyful destinations in life, the end result is always worth the struggle. I am grateful for the glimpses of Gethsemane that have occurred along the journey of my life. I hope I will always remember our Savior, Jesus Christ as I behold His little ones. I desire that my children feel His love daily. It is my choice to be filled with His love so that I may become purified as He is pure.