Pregnancy Fête: Huntington's Pantoum

A mother's excitement about welcoming a new child into the world is tempered by the fear that her Huntington disease genes will be passed on to the baby.Pregnancy fête: anticipation,Excitement, planningCounting the numbersTen fingers, ten toesExcitement, planningPink sheets, blue ties?Ten fingers, ten toesFirst movements: rolling, kickingPink cheeks, blue eyes?Watching you growFirst movements: rolling, kickingFlickering ultrasound picturesWatching you growI cannot wait to hold youFlickering ultrasound pictures ofyour shapeI cannot wait to hold youAs parents, we wonder how we'll beYou're shaped,your chromosomes from oursAs parents, we wonder how will beeach pair of your genesyour chromosomes from oursI have Huntington's disease.Each pair of your genes,fate sealed: heads or tails?I have Huntington's disease.Autosomal dominant, the doctor said.Fate sealed. I can't make heads or tails of it.Do you have it or not?Autosomal dominant, the doctor said.Will I watch you grow?Do you have it or not?I ache to hold you in my armsWill I watch you grow?Take your first steps?I ache to hold you in my arms,but I fear I'll drop you. As youtake your first steps,will I be losing mine?But I fear I'll drop you. As yougum pureed solids,will I be losing myability to swallow?Gum pureed solids,blow spit bubbles and droolMy ability to swallowthis tough pill is lostBlow spit bubbles and droolQuite the pair we makeThis tough pill is not loston meQuite the pair we makeThe reason for your disease ison meAloneThe reason for your disease isThe number of repeatsAloneNew moms can feel trappedThe number of repeatsMore than 36New moms can feel trappedThe caged bird singsMore than 36Will I live to see?The caged bird singsand you with meWill I live to see?Counting the numbersand you with mePregnancy fate: anticipation.