Celia’s Story: Thirteen Years Ago Today

Thirteen.

Thirteen years ago today.

I was lying in bed. It was midnight, I was tired, and very, very pregnant. We had spent the day celebrating a friend’s baby’s birthday. We thought we had three more weeks to meet her, but turns out she had different plans.

Celia’s birth story is very similar to Nolan’s.

My water broke around midnight for both. We drove to the hospital & got admitted around 2 am. Labored. And delivered each within 10/11 hours. The difference for Celia’s birth was that labor-wise it was easier, and scheduling-wise it wasn’t.

I was coaching Harford women’s lacrosse team at the time. On the day Celia was born, I was scheduled to coach a home game against Nassau Community College. In the early morning hours of April 7th, I had to text my athletic director to let him know I wasn’t going to be able to make it in for the game.

I remember lying in the hospital bed, holding my one-hour-old newborn, getting game updates from the assistant AD and dear friend, Donna Grove. We were down at the half, but those girls rallied and ended up winning the game.

They did it “for Celia”, the team later told me.

Lacrosse runs in my girls’ blood.

But it’s more than that.

She was with me, in my belly, listening to me coach this incredible group of women the season of 2013. It was the first of seven seasons we made it to the national tournament. We hit some huge milestones that year as a program. So did I, as a person.

And Celia was there with the most behind the scenes of all the behind the scenes.

Feeling my feelings. Hearing my thoughts and voice. Soaking in my emotions.  I believe that had a lot to do with who she is today.

My girl is a fighter like you wouldn’t believe. She has grit and will that literally stops me in my tracks. She is the most observant person I’ve ever met and connects dots that are beyond what I can comprehend.

I believe she was sent down to teach us and teach she has for thirteen years.

She lets me into her world now just as I let her into my world back then.

Thirteen years ago today.