"She has an extra finger!"

Before: Lydie @ 2 weeks old and with 11 fingers

What a surprise it was in the delivery room when one of the nurses measuring and weighing Lydia called out, "She has an extra finger!" Josh still has the scar from his extra finger, but we never thought this extra-ordinary trait would be passed to a girl. Generations of fathers and sons have shared the gene, but never a daughter. As neat and useful as it might be, we decided we didn't want her to have to go through life as "The Girl with 11 fingers." Josh still remembers the disgusted looks on the 9th grade girls' faces when he proudly announced to his Biology class that he was born with an extra finger. Imagine their response at meeting someone that still had that 11th finger!

After getting several opinions, we waited until she was six months old to take her to Primary Children's Hospital to have a plastic surgeon remove it. We were so nervous because she would have to go under complete anesthesia. Everyone reassured us that everything would be okay, but we knew the risks and it is scary to think what might happen. I had this little fear in the back of my head that the little finger was the source of her ultra-happy personality and without the finger she just wouldn't be the same.

Thanks to a priesthood blessing that Josh gave her the night before, we went up to the hospital trusting that she was in the Lord's hands. However, I have to admit that handing her over to the anesthesiologist and watching her crane her neck to look back at us as they went through those doors was one of the hardest things I have ever done. We just stood there looking at the closed doors, then at each other, then back at the closed doors. Then we waited...The minute hand on the waiting room clock just dragged as it passed the numbers. Finally, they called Josh back to sit with her as she came out of the anesthesia. She was mad and inconsolable in the arms of the doctor and nurses. Once she realized that she was safe in her dad's arms she calmed down. I got to go back after a few minutes. Josh was holding her wrapped in one of those ugly bear blankets that all IHC hospitals have, her IV tubes and heart rate cords were trailing out the bottom. Sticking out of the blanket was a huge purple cast that went all the way up to her elbow. It seemed too heavy for her little arm to lift. She was calm, but very sober. We snuggled and waited for the okay of the nurse so we could take her home.

Although she wasn't smiling yet, we could tell she was alright. It only took about an hour for her smiles and giggles to come back. I was so relieved! She is back to normal and her little hand is finally healing.

We are so grateful that everything went well. As wonderful as this experience has been, we pray that she is our only child born with an extra digit.

After: Lydie @ 7 months and with only 10 fingers
(her hand is almost completely healed)