英语15篇文章背完大学英语六级词汇Unit7Part2

　　Iwaited a day before calling

　　Dr. Sam to inform him of

　　my decision. I had to be sure!

　　Miriam, I think I know

　　why you want to go through

　　with this pregnancy, but

　　are you aware of the risks?

　　I know my baby will be

　　different. I know she may be

　　mentally and physically retarded.

　　She may have developmental difficulties

　　and problems with social acceptance.

　　I do recognize that I am

　　going to have to amend

　　almost every facet of my life.

　　I am prepared to do that.

　　This is my final gift

　　from Paul and I am determined

　　to go through with this!

　　I thought you would feel

　　that way. You have my utmost

　　admiration and support. I will

　　follow your pregnancy carefully

　　but I want you to see

　　a specialist in birth defects.

　　I will refer you to Dr. Brown

　　and would like you to make

　　an appointment with her

　　as soon as possible, he said.

　　I knew then that I had

　　made the right choice.

　　My pregnancy was not without

　　its hardships, from morning sickness

　　to swollen ankles, but I had

　　no doubts about the decision

　　I had made. My parents, when

　　I told them what was going

　　on with me, expressed their concerns

　　but also their confidence

　　in my decision and assured me

　　they would be there when

　　I delivered my baby.

　　Paula was born on a bright,

　　cloudless, warm Tuesday morning

　　in May. I was prepared to

　　see a red, wrinkled, squalling infant.

　　Instead, I saw very little.

　　Because of the risks involved,

　　Paula was delivered by Caesarian section.

　　The doctors and nurses rushed her

　　into an incubatorto assess her

　　before I caught a glimpse of her.

　　I could see my parents

　　on the other side of

　　the operating room window, questions

　　in their eyes. What was going on?

　　The nurses kept me comfortable

　　and tried to alleviate my fears

　　but half an hour passed before

　　our questions were answered.

　　My daughter had a severe heart defect.

　　It could be corrected through surgery

　　but not until she gained

　　a little weight and strength.

　　I understood in that moment that

　　my life had changed forever.

　　I demanded to see her immediately,

　　and as soon as I did,

　　I fell in love. This most

　　precious of all gifts was

　　going to survive the obstacles

　　ahead of her with my help.

　　I knew in an instant that

　　all my strength,love, and

　　monetary resources were at

　　her command. Nothing she wanted,

　　needed, or even dreamed

　　of, would ever be denied.

　　The heart surgery to correct

　　a flawed valve was a resounding success.

　　Fortunately, the common defects

　　occurring in a majority

　　of Downs syndrome children

　　were absent in Paula. She has

　　no intestinal malformations, hearing impairment,

　　or severe visual problems.

　　We are truly blessed.

　　My parents adore this exceptional grandchild.

　　Their expertise in teaching, nurturing,

　　and parenting has been so welcome.

　　I always knew they were there

　　for me; now they are there for us.

　　I am aware of the sympathetic

　　looks from strangers who dont know

　　or understand the disorder

　　afflicting my child. Their pity,

　　for what they ascertain as

　　my plight, is misplaced but understandable.

　　I am sure that I, too,

　　felt sorry for parents of what

　　I thought of as imperfect children.

　　Paula is a delightful child.

　　Her physical defects are apparent;

　　there is no doubt she is

　　different from other children.

　　However, she goes to school

　　with other children her age;

　　she takes longer to learn things

　　and has to work harder,

　　but she is achieving all

　　the milestones of growing children.

　　Raising her is a challenge,

　　as is the raising of any child.

　　It isnt easy and it wont get easier.

　　As she grows and develops,

　　there will be questions to answer,

　　hurdles to cross, and goals

　　to reach. Paula is different.

　　She is aware that she is.

　　It doesnt dismay her. She greets

　　each day with a smile on her

　　lips and a sparkle in her eye.

　　Do I ever have doubts about

　　my decision? No! My only regret

　　is that Paul isnt here to

　　share my joy in our wonderful daughter.