. . . on a "Mother's Love"
With the "Holiday Season" upon us, I have always taken pleasure in sharing with my readers stories of inspiration. And during this time of the year, what could be more inspiring than a tale about a mother's love for her children. So, Valley wrestling and sports fans, sit back and enjoy this Christmas story.
All three of my sons wrestled for the Greater Wheeling Smallfry Wrestling League. It was during our youngest son's fourth grade year as a mat competitor in that league when my wife Peggy looked at me and said, "Dan-E.'s too small." I looked at her with extreme disbelief.
I asked her to repeat what she said and Peggy vehemently responded, "Bill, our Dan-E. is too little for his age."
I said almost jokingly, "Peg, you and I are small and so are our kids."
"NO! I can tell; Dan-E. is even too short to be a Welker," retorted my wife.
Knowing I wasn't going to win this argument, upon Peggy's request (or should I say demand), I scheduled an appointment for Dan-E. with our family doctor.
At the doctor's office, I stood there in awe as Peggy explained to this veteran physician, "My boy is too little."
The doctor, a close friend of the Welker family, replied, "Peggy, you and Bill are small in stature. You have to expect that your kids will be the same, too."
Peggy would not accept this answer and replied, "I do not mean to be disrespectful, doctor, but I sense that Dan-E. is too short, even for a Welker."
Our family physician, who has been devoted to us for over 20 years at the time, could not sway Peggy from her position of mother intuition.
Realizing he would not win this battle with a determined loving mother, the doctor scheduled another appointment for Dan-E. with a specialist involved with children's growth problems.
The outcome of that next visit was a surprise to everyone, but Peggy. We learned from the specialist that Dan-E. had a deformed pituitary gland, which was not secreting enough "growth hormone." The doctor immediately placed our youngest son on a synthetic growth hormone.
Had this abnormal condition gone undetected, our youngest son Dan-E. would have grown to be no taller than 4 feet and 11 inches as an adult. Today Dan-E., who is married with beautiful children - and in the military, has reached a heighth of 5 feet and 7 1/2 inches. In fact, he is three inches taller than yours truly. Thank you my wonderfully perceptive Peggy.
There is nothing to compare with the sincerity of maternal love. Yes, a mother's devoted concern for her children is nonpareil and epitomizes the true spirit of Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!
MAT MESSAGES
"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child."
-- Sophia Loren
and
"Mothers are the most instinctive philosophers."
-- Harriet Beecher Stowe