Has it been that long? For many reasons, some known and some unknown; the months and years that have passed since March 13, 1995 seem as a blur. As the song says; “Don’t Blink!” Where were you? What do you remember about that time period? For me, it is filled with loving joyful memories as my son was born at the St. Francis Women’s and Family Hospital in Greenville, SC on that wonderful day. (The hospital is now called – St Francis eastside.) We referred to it as the hospital with the green roof! It was a very exciting day amidst a series of events that would change the lives of many in Greenville, SC and Spindale, NC.
First, let me share what I remember about that day for our family. We lived on Central Ave. in Mauldin, SC with another member of Grace and Truth Fellowship. We had moved to Greenville in March of 1992 from Summerville, SC. When we moved, our daughter was sixteen months old. During the three years since we arrived, we had integrated into the Fellowship and settled into the routine of attending services several times a week, while my wife taught in the church run school that my daughter attended. During those years, I worked several part-time jobs in order to attend the “Training Center” at Grace and Truth. That subject is for another day.
If my memory serves me correctly, when we checked into the hospital,we were on the second floor in the maternity ward in a spacious delivery room. Several ladies from the church surrounded us as we witnessed the miracle of birth of our son. Medically, the process seemed to go smoothly, as smoothly as it does, I reckon. (Easy for me to say, I was a coach and supporter, my wife did all the hard work …) Our son was healthy and had no apparent medical alarms. We both stayed the night as I remember. I slept on a chair that pulled out into a sleeper. Before the evening was done, the lady we lived with brought our daughter to the hospital to see her new brother. Many smiles were on everyone that night!