Personal Experience Of Birth Research Paper

When I think of birth, I have realized that my thoughts have been shaped around personal experiences. To me, birth comes in many forms, more than just the traditional child birthing. When you have a bone marrow transplant, you are “rebirthed”. I have my normal birthday, and my new birthday. My new birthday gave me a second chance at life and to me that is exactly what birth is -a chance at life. I can relate this to Portier’s view, although he uses it in the sense of a newborn. He says, “Babies represent for us a renewal and reaffirmation of life. They remind us of new beginnings and human possibilities” (Portier, 11). In this sense it is identical to the experience I came through. After receiving this successful bone marrow transplant, I questioned

Some people question if a plan actually exists, because why would anybody be put on this Earth just to die? I have found that because I was brought up in a western Christian society, I have always just believed that everybody was put here for a purpose and we just need to trust in that. Portier describes these as the “deep questions about the human condition” (Portier, 17). Reflecting on my personal experience, I can confirm that during those tough times my religious beliefs started to play a larger role in my life. I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Monosomy 7 when I was a freshman in high school. I was beyond confused as to why anyone is cursed with a disease that has the potential to kill you, but the support I received around me really shaped my outcome. Receiving prayer blankets from strangers and thousands of cards wishing me the best was so uplifting. The power of prayer was really at it’s finest, and although I am not sure what I completely believe in, something special happened during those months and I think that influenced my current

Like I previously stated, I do not consider myself an extremely religious person. However my mom’s experience with birth and death and the coincidence it presented later in life really made me reflect on my belief. Only 20% of siblings are a bone marrow match for each other, and even at that rate, the match is not always as high as it should be. My brother, Mitchell, was a 9 out of 10 match when I needed a donor. At the time, I did not relate my mom’s experience to this at all. But after a discussion, I had so many questions. What if the child after me had been born? Would they have been an acceptable match? And if they would not have been, how long would it have been until I found a match, if I even would have at all? So it lead me to a conclusion that I can only classify as a religious belief. My mom’s loss of three children led her to the birth of one who would end up saving the other’s life. If it had not been for a miscarriage, I wonder if I would even be alive right now. Although it is a combination of both birth and death, I see this relating to Portier’s views on birth. He explains how the initial wonder of a newborn suddenly turns to dread when you start questioning how you will care for them. “It can be greeted as a gracious gift or resisted as an intolerable imposition” (Portier 12). I think Portier means that some people can question their ability