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05 October 2008
MICHAEL LAWS
Sunday, 5 October - Theo
comes home
It has been nine days and nine
nights since Leo flew up to Auckland - heavily pregnant
- in preparation for the delivery
of our latest child.
It is sad to say but Wanganui's maternity
services continue to be poor and erratic despite the DHB
having two years to
fix them. It may improve, it may not. Welcome to the appalling
lottery that is provincial maternity services and the one,
singular thing that holds my city back.
The lack of leadership
- at DHB board and senior management level - has been shocking.
Thankfully the CEO has departed
and new obstetrics recruitment looks to have plugged the
specialist gap. But the lack of LMCs and midwives is chronic
- and I still can't see any real commitment or urgency emanating
from the DHB to correct that situation. Jeez, and I'm on
the board!
Anyway ... that moan over - we had
no option but to birth Theo in Auckland and to do so privately.
The service was simply outstanding as is the post-natal care
at Birthcare in Parnell. Again, Wanganui should have a similar
facility but a lack of central government vision ensures
that it does not.
Theo - 3 days old |
At 10.24am
Wednesday 1 October, our
little man arrived - ushered in (or rather, sliced into the
open)
by Dr Paul Robinson
and his surgical team. It was a routine Caesarian and really
did assist Leo's astonishing recuperative powers. By 2pm
she was back on the ward - walking around and feeding Theo.
I came home that night to look after
the two girls and then flew up Sunday morning to collect
mother and baby. Their
arrival home was greeted with incredible excitement - both
Lucy and Zoe went nuts!
Ella, our 16 year old, has done an
incredible job as surrogate mmm for the wee girls - so after
expressing her delight,
she collapsed into bed with a well deserved sleep!
Now we
only have to have Noah home from his Dad's, and we will be
complete as the family unit. I guess the next change
will happen when Ella either leaves for varsity or OE - a
couple of years hence.
But here we are: aged Dad, natural
Mum, then 16, 11, 3, 2 and 4 days. Not bad. I've actually
written a column in the
'Sunday Star-Times' today about the mortality of us older
fathers, and the extra responsibility that brings.
This could
have been a homecoming of the most ineffable sadness.
Eight
months ago, Lucy was literally at death's portal. She was
not expected to survive the fortnight and undergoing
experimental treatment in the distant hope of lengthening
her short odds.
Today - I wish you could have seen
her - she was bouncing up and down in delight and claiming
priority
rights to cradle
Theo. She is as well as I've seen her in a year, and her
hair has even grown back to resemble a 'Number One' haircut.
She is, touch wood, thriving.
Theo - 3 days old |
Indeed this week she had mornings
at her beloved 'Bizzy Bee' - from which she always returns
paint-scattered, sand-strewn
and completely exhausted. A bottle of warm milk and she won't
surface until 3pm. But as ebullient as ever, and ready to
test her father at every instant.
And Theo's name? We liked
'Theo' but have given him his whole name of 'Theodore' should
he want to use that later in life.
It is from the Greek, and means "gift of God" -
and, very possibly, he is. It's been a very, very tough year
so who is say that he is not?
Frederick is to recognise the
pivotal role that my grandfather, Fred Robinson, played
in my early life. He always used to
tell me he was named Frederick William after Frederick
the Great and William the Conqueror - well, Grandad, I hope
(wherever
you are) your great grandson can catch fish better than
me! But I will teach him nonetheless. Lucy's middle name
is 'Olive'
to similarly recognise my maternal grandmother.
Then there
is Brookhammer as there is with Lucy and Zoe too - with
the surname Laws. One day I am just going to
have
to get around to marrying this lady!
I hope this finds
you and your family well. I'm taking the next week off
everything - mayoralty and radio -
and really
looking forward to being an uninterrupted family for
seven days.
Best wishes from Theo's daddy,
Michael
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