Daughter's early arrival brings dad from battlefield

tennessean ^ | 11-19-03 | jay hamburg

[steppenwolffe]

Soldier gets brief visit to bond with his feisty premature baby

The 6-foot-2 soldier, who recently returned from patrolling the dusty, sometimes dangerous villages in northern Iraq, reached into the clear, clean incubator on the intensive-care ward in Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and gently lifted the squirming little reason he came home in a hurry.

There in his hands was 14-inch, 2-pound Hannah, who arrived four months premature at the post hospital at Fort Campbell and quickly got her first transfer orders to Nashville for special high-tech care.

Cradling the baby in his arms for the few minutes that she was allowed outside the temperature-controlled, clear plastic box, the young father wrapped a blanket around his daughter and whispered, ''Hi, sweetheart.''

Hannah reached up with her premature hand, barely large enough to wrap around the end of her father's index finger, and there they were: infant and infantryman, forming one of the bonds that make danger in a faraway desert worthwhile to her dad.

Army Sgt. Erik Alderin, 22, will head back to the ongoing conflict in Iraq on Saturday — duties with the 101st Airborne Division that he doesn't talk too much about, except to say that it ultimately helps keep his own family safe. These days he focuses on his wife, Tanya, and their first child, squeezing in as much family time as he can before returning to a place still rife with danger.

[steppenwolffe]

The baby and dad. Well, dad's hand, anyway.

BTW, hard to believe that monsters pretending to be docs have no qualms about murdering just such infants.

Proverbs 6: one of the things God hates is hands that shed innocent blood.

[areafiftyone]

ONG what a beautiful baby. That is sooo precious! Thanks for the post.

[Maigrey]

Logan-esque Ping!

[anniegetyourgun]

Hey...I was only 4 lbs. at birth, so I am optimistic and praying for Hannah!

This story is as touching as the one I saw on FoxNews last night of bride who's dad made it back from Iraq JUST in time to walk her down the aisle. She didn't know until she saw his face. I can't imagine there was a dry eye in the house at that wedding!

WELCOME, HANNAH!

[Okies love Dubya 2]

Sniff...

How beautiful a little girl these lucky parents have. They sound like awesome people for being so young!

I don't care if she was born 4 days early or 4 months early, she is still a human being. Just like the 10-week-old that I carry in my womb is a human being. Granted, a much smaller human being, but one nonetheless.

[Texas Termite]

Welcome Hannah :)

We've got double duty praying here. For this precious, beautiful little one and the safety of her daddy when he returns to Iraq. And of course, for strength for her mommy as she has concerns for both.

Hannah... miracles are possible. I'm one!! Let all around you pray for you and keep telling you that they love you and that you WILL be ok.

You have a wonderful family here on Free Republic that will continually keep you in their prayers.

God bless you and keep you and your family safe. Our thanks to your daddy for his service to this great nation.

Logan, Beth & Nana

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Prayer Ping request BY Texas Termite for Hannah and her daddy and mommy.

Maigrey : Thank You for posting this.
Texas Termite : Thanks for the ping lil one.

[Nitro]

Hello Tonk,

I made a nice prayer.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Please excuse me.
I am sorry
Thank YOU for posting this.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks Brother

[TexasCowboy]

What a wonderful thing to come home to!

Prayers to our Father for the health of little Hannah and the safety of her daddy.

[McGavin999]

What a wonderful story, and what a miraculous little being. May God guide her and strengthen her and may He protect her daddy.

[boxerblues]

Welcome the newest Screaming Eagle.

[Nitro]

You know them?

Have them raise the kid to go to Annapolis.

[Soaring Feather]

bump

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"You know them?"

No, I don't.

[sarasmom]

BTTT

[Merdoug]

My local paper, the "Pravda on the Cumberland" (Tennessean), had this picture on the front page this morning. I was amazed, since they are such socialist pro-abortion supporters. I longed to put this picture up on the bulletin board at work with a caption mentioning partial birth abortion, but it would have gotten me in trouble. How can any thinking Human not look at that precious little girl and not be pro-life? Just think of little babies like her who have had their brains sucked out. How could a mother do that to their child?

[blackie]

Prayer ~ Bump!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

What a beautiful story ~ and beautifully written. Thank you~*

Soldier gets brief visit to bond with his feisty premature baby

The 6-foot-2 soldier, who recently returned from patrolling the dusty, sometimes dangerous villages in northern Iraq, reached into the clear, clean incubator on the intensive-care ward in Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and gently lifted the squirming little reason he came home in a hurry.

~~~~~~
Ping! {