at 5:25pm, after 9 strange hours and 3 strange pushes,
rena rose
came out.
four parents, standing there,
passing her from love to love
almost two years to the day
when we thought the baby
would come out of leanne.
a slightly different route.
—-
just now, tina’s mom stopped by with tina’s two daughters.
they wanted some alone time with rena.
when we came in to get her, tina’s mom started weeping.
she held me the way that the woman held me in the airport
in washington dc, crying, trying to get home to my wife
who had cancer.
it was that kind of hug.
she didn’t let go for a long time.
thank you for taking her, she said.
we have a lot of love in us, we said,
and then we left the room.
53 Comments
July 15, 2009 at 7:46 pm
SO MANY CONGRATULATIONS! She is beautiful! Best wishes to your family!
July 15, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I am thrilled to pieces for all of you!! A slightly different route, but one that couldn’t of been more special. She is beautiful.
Many blessings to you and yours!
July 15, 2009 at 8:07 pm
No words can express the happiness I feel for your family. Welcome to Rena. Welcome to another chapter…
—a friend of Marla’s—-
July 15, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Congratulations!
July 15, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Your words have touched me so deeply and, I am sure, will continue to do so. Congratulations to you and your family. Much happiness to you all.
July 15, 2009 at 9:11 pm
And a lot of love on you.
July 15, 2009 at 11:02 pm
I got tingles and am crying! Dang you. Congrats on the beautiful new daughter!
July 15, 2009 at 11:09 pm
awesome! rena. nice.
July 15, 2009 at 11:24 pm
what a wonderful update!!! i love the pictures, the name and the happiness that will come filling your hearts. so happy for you all!
July 15, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Glorious news! Congratulations and very best thoughts to you all.
July 16, 2009 at 12:54 am
mazel tov and best wishes for the future.
July 16, 2009 at 3:30 am
Congratulations and many blessings to each and every one of you!!!
July 16, 2009 at 4:00 am
Welcome Rena Rose!
July 16, 2009 at 4:19 am
Congrats! She is beautiful, and had a beautiful name to match!
July 16, 2009 at 4:23 am
That should have said “HAS a beautiful name to match.” I should not be allowed to type this early in the morning.
July 16, 2009 at 4:36 am
Congratulations!! From a misty-eyed fan in Baltimore.
July 16, 2009 at 4:37 am
How wonderful!!!! I am so glad that this finally happened for you! And what a blessing to little Rena to be adopted by a family with so much love.
July 16, 2009 at 5:05 am
A million congratulations to your family! She is absolutely beautiful. What joyful news!
July 16, 2009 at 5:29 am
Such joy….finally!
Congratulations!
July 16, 2009 at 5:47 am
Lydia and Rena-sitting in a tree. Happily! But wait! What is in Rena’s ear? A love note. To all. Many many smiles to you all!
July 16, 2009 at 6:27 am
This is wonderful news. I hadn’t checked your blog in a couple of weeks and found out about your new daughter from my niece Sarah. I wish your beautiful family every happiness.
July 16, 2009 at 6:49 am
Nothing like starting the day with full on happiness weeping.
She is beautiful and will thrive with your family.
Thank you for sharing the news – and with pictures!
July 16, 2009 at 6:52 am
Dan and Leanne and Lydia – I am crying tears of joy for you all. Though we’ve never met, I feel like I know you all through your words and pictures. Many blessings and much happiness. Your friend in baltimore, Keri
July 16, 2009 at 7:07 am
Sending a million good wishes your way.
July 16, 2009 at 7:13 am
Wonderful. I have no other words.
July 16, 2009 at 7:59 am
Congrats a million times over…..finding this today has me crying into my cup of morning coffee.
Many blessings for the newly embarked part of your journey. Make sure you skip and sing and dance on this beautiful new road put before you. I know you will.
July 16, 2009 at 8:22 am
crying into coffee???
excellent.
5 points for me!!!!!
off to dance.
July 16, 2009 at 8:00 am
Daniel and Leanne and Lydia and Rena
Leanne and Lydia and Rena and Daniel
Lydia and Rena and Daniel and Leanne
Rena and Daniel and Leanne and Lydia
Mazel Tov! ¡Felicitaciones! Life is good!
July 16, 2009 at 9:25 am
Oh, I can’t tell you how happy happy happy I am for your family. Thank you so much for sharing your joys and your stories with me!
July 16, 2009 at 9:31 am
Finally. So, so happy for you guys.
July 16, 2009 at 10:09 am
I’m so happy for you all! Congratulations!
July 16, 2009 at 10:09 am
incredible
beautiful
remarkable
felicidades
July 16, 2009 at 10:27 am
Very happy for you! Congratulations!
July 16, 2009 at 10:37 am
i don’t know you, and you don’t know me, but i got to you somehow or another about a year ago, and i’ve waited for this day ever since. i am so happy for you and your family that i’m vibrating a little. congratulations! (that looks so much smaller than how i feel)
July 16, 2009 at 10:56 am
my goodness gracious. wow wee. happy for you all. she is beautiful.
July 16, 2009 at 10:57 am
my goodness gracious. happy for you all. she is beautiful.
July 16, 2009 at 11:01 am
Beautiful! Congratulations!
July 16, 2009 at 3:05 pm
She is beautiful. Congratulations from KY!
July 16, 2009 at 4:24 pm
her name is beautiful and perfect. i hope she is as her namesake. lovely, long lived, and long loved.
July 16, 2009 at 6:57 pm
She is gorgeous. Congratulations!
July 16, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I am so so happy for you all. Rena Rose pulled the winning ticket in finding you and Leanne and Lydia.
So happy for you.
July 16, 2009 at 8:49 pm
To see that photo? That smile that Leanne is smiling? It’s everything. Most sincere congratulations to your family. Such a blessing, in so many ways.
July 17, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I’m a friend/old digital storytelling student of Joe L’s in SF who has been following your story ever since Joe sent out a link way back in January 2007. What amazing thoughts and feelings you’ve conveyed about your journey all along the way. Though I had never had a similar situation to deal with, your story and how you dealt with your challenges really drew me in.
So then my Dad was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. I’ve since found myself on many occasions thinking about how you all addressed Leanne’s illness head-on with love, humor and insight. It’s been a great reference point.
Due to Dad being sick, I hadn’t checked your blog in several months, but I was SO happy today see the fantastic news of Rena’s arrival. You have had so many ups and downs, and you are so deserving of this joy. Thanks for your inspiring stories, the hope you share with all of us, and I wish you continued happiness. –MER*
July 17, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I am sitting here crying for you.
Congratulations to you all! I am so happy for you. Rena is a lucky lucky girl.
I am so glad this joy has come into your life. Enjoy her. Treasure this new life you’ve been given.
July 17, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I don’t know you but I’ve been following your blog. You’ve had such an incredible journey and written so eloquently about it. Many, many congratulations to you and your wonderfully named new daughter!
July 17, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Oh what wonderful, wonderful news. Congratulations on your happy new beginning.
July 17, 2009 at 7:56 pm
What wonderful news! Congratulations, and welcome, welcome little Rena, to the world.
July 18, 2009 at 12:46 am
My heart is about to burst with joy for all of you. The pictures are awesome, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful experience.
Rena Rose is a wonderful name. She is beautiful. The look on your faces says it all.
Have a wonderful life you”4″. Keep us posted on how things are going.
July 19, 2009 at 6:16 am
[...] Guess who else is experiencing Big Joy this week? Leanne and Daniel! If you ever Followed Lingling as She Gave Lymphoma a Beatdown,” pop on over and celebrate with them as they welcome their child to the world. And of [...]
July 19, 2009 at 6:46 am
what joy. congratulations to all of you, and welcome to little Rena. :)
July 20, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Congratulations!
July 21, 2009 at 5:56 am
me again. and you already know this, but your wife is so radiant. wow. the baby is gorgous.
September 24, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I sit here crying right now…sobbing actually. I have followed you for two years. I must admit, months will go by and as I’m typing in the address I am scared…scared that the page will pop up and something bad will have happened. How unbelievably happy I am right now to read that your family has grown! May you continue to be blessed always.