When I was 15, I had my first miscarriage. My grandmother told me that things always happened for a reason and I was not ready to have a baby. I trusted in her words and thanked God that he spared my baby the troubles I could have had.

Then I got married and had a stillborn and three more miscarriages. By this point, I was devastated that perhaps I would never have my dream of two little girls.

I became pregnant again and was referred to the High Risk Clinic. There I met Drs. Anderson, Torhorst, Speicenger and Roley, and Chris Clary, my OB Nurse. I will never forget them. I had to come for weekly visits during the whole nine months, experienced FAD testing and multiple stress tests.

I had my first healthy live baby on July 1, 1986 with Chris Clary holding my hand and guiding me through. She was also the first visitor to come to see me. As we sat there and cried together, I never felt more lucky in my life.

In May of 1988, I was expecting my second child. I was still very nervous about having anyone other than my friends at Meriter help me deliver. When I expressed this to my regular doctor, he called Dr. Anderson who came to Mauston and delivered my second child. What a dedicated physician to go that far, and how grateful I am that he did.

Now in 2008, I look back and see just how much the staff meant to me. So much that I have never forgotten their names and even looked Chris up a few years ago to thank her again for all she did for me. She never let me think for once that my dream was not going to come true.

Now, I live my dream. My two girls are 20 and almost 22. I am happily married to their father, and we have the first boy in our family...Chris Clary and Dr. Anderson's legacy...a grandson...Braden James. Thank you all so much!

Dawn