The Blakeney Family
As you can see from this photo, there’s a considerable age difference between Nathan (front and center) and the rest of our children. He’s my late-in-life surprise baby. Personality-wise, he’s been a delight, but–whew!–the health challenges! He was born with a rare congenital heart defect, scimitar syndrome.
During our seven-year journey with Nathan, I would sometimes shake my head and think, “I could write a book…” I wasn’t serious at the time, but a couple of years ago, with the worst behind us, I sat down with my laptop and began pouring it out. I’ve joked on occasion that I’ve saved the family a fortune in therapy bills by writing this memoir.
Will it ever be published? I don’t know. But the story has served a purpose. I got a lot of pent-up emotion out of my system, and I ultimately enjoyed the process of writing and crafting a story. Because the story is true, I can pass it on to my kids, especially Nathan, and they will have a piece of their family history.
A small part of our story has been published in the July 2010 issue of Parents magazine. Read the online version of “Nathan’s Wonder Slide” here. While you’re there, click the thumbs up if you like our little story. Share it with friends through email, Facebook, or Twitter.
About the Cover:
Published or not, I couldn’t resist sharing a fantasy cover. My brother, Tom Parker, designed the “cover” using a photograph taken by a friend of mine, Rachel Craig. It shows Nathan’s first stint as ring bearer at the wedding of his Sunday School teacher, Miss Mary Ellen Payne, now Mrs. Pete Neil.
The picture is special to me because, beyond being a heart patient, Nathan also endured a “brutal” spinal fusion surgery for Congenital Kyphosis. The adjective, “brutal,” was cited by a doctor at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, as he attempted to prepare us for the realities of this particular surgery. For the purpose of wearing a tux in style, he was allowed to forgo wearing his fiberglass body brace for a while, so he was in heaven when Rachel snapped this shot.
Friends who are familiar with Nathan know he’s a character (see My Informercial Baby). He did not disappoint on this day. He danced and flirted with the ladies–that’s why he’s smiling so big. I also love how the window and the porch rails form a perfect cross next to his face.
Hopefully, I’ve picked up some of Nathan’s unique personality in my first chapter. To read it, click here.
