Katie+D.

Saturday, July 1, 1989
It is the late summer of 1989, a hot, sticky Saturday afternoon. Hundreds sit together, side by side, in rows of wooden folding chairs on the main campus lawn. One by one, the students approach the podium to graciously accept their diploma. Then suddenly the phone rings. John Dochterman, a twenty six year old male living in Lancaster, PA anxiously answers. On the other line is his wife, Denise. Denise, a female of the same age, is in delivery with their fourth child. The nurse tells John that the contractions began around noon and are occurring at more frequent intervals. John is relieved, however, that the delivery of their new child will not occur for at least twenty hours.

Before the ceremony comes to a close, John precipitates towards the door, almost forgetting to bid his mother and sister farewell. “That car ride was the longest I ever had in my life,” stated the soon to be father. “All I wanted was to be with my wife and newborn child.” As John pulled up to the Emergency Room entrance at St. Joseph Hospital, he ransacked his car to find two shirts: one blue, the other pink. “As I stared at the two colors that stood before me, I knew which one I had to choose.” Now, in pink, John is ready to enter the hospital. “After three boys, it was time for a little girl in our family.”

Like many hospitals, the walls were painted a distilled white and the staff greeted guests with warm smiles. On the walls there were no posters of contemporary rock stars or movie legends, there was no music or radio. For once it was silent. A distinct contrast from the family’s life at home with three vibrant young boys (Fragment). “The charismatic male at the desk directed me to room 201,” states John. It’s on the second floor, two rooms, to the left,” expounded the receptionist.

John was then directed to the visiting elevator. Inside a young girl entered approximately around the age of eight years old. The child did not speak a word, but in her hands she held a portable CD player. Blasting from the device was the hit song from pop phenomenon [|Paula Abdul]. “[|Opposites] [|Attract],” was the song entitlement and to many fans it was noted for its video duet between Abdul and animated feline. “The song made me chuckle,” stated John. Like many, John never believed in the attraction between complete opposites. “My wife and I had our differences, but we were two peas in a pod, she was my other half.” The elevator finally came to the second floor. As I was coming around the corner, I noticed my wife walking frantically up and down the hallways.

Denise was delighted to see her husband. “They wanted to send me home,” she expounded. “I know my body, I’m going to have this baby today.” The nurse returned once again pleading her case. Exasperated, Denise exclaimed, (")I am not going home.” The nurse smiled and said “start walking.” For six long, painful hours Denise meandered the desolate halls of the maternity ward.

Finally, the sun faded and dinner was served.

Denise and John, exhausted, returned to the room. At this point the contractions became frequent and regular. In an attempt to distract Denise’s mind from her anguish, John switched on the television hit series, “[|Quantum] [|Leap].” For fifty minutes Denise attempted to watch the series, striving to avoid the pain of labor. Unfortunately her attempts were unsuccessful. In pain, Denise cried out. Her shrill scream was heard throughout the second floor of the hospital.

Instantly, the room was filled with nurses and the revered friend and [|obstetrician], Dr. Martini. “Congratulations, you are fully [|dilated],” stated Martini. “Wait,” cried the doctor. Denise and John listened intently to the obstetrician. “The baby is in a high station in the uterus, it may take several hours of pushing.” The doctor exited and Denise was left in the care of [|RN] Sandra Grace. With one potent exuberant push the baby’s head crowned. Flabbergasted, Sandra exclaimed “stop pushing.” Denise obeyed and the nurse quickly scurried out of the room. The doctor entered. Nearly three minutes and six pushes later the child was born.

After three successful births and two [|miscarriages], Denise and John Dochterman finally got their wish. The child, born on Saturday, July, 1, 1989 was healthy, strong, and best of all a baby girl.

The next morning, around eight o’ clock arrived three new visitors. Jonathan, Daniel, and Andrew Dochterman, aged seven, five, and three years old (fragment). Unlike many siblings, the three brothers could hardly wait to see their new sister. The oldest son, Jonathan “could barely keep his hands off her” said Denise, (Change this comma to a semicolon) “we all awaited this moment, when we finally would have a little girl of our own.”

Accompanying the three boys were Edwin and Joanne Spackman as well as Vernon and Audrey Dochterman - the grandparents of Katie Denise. “She was the biggest baby I had ever seen,” chuckled Edwin. Weighing in at ten pounds, eight ounces, Katie was certainly not born [|prematurely]. Although arriving five days earlier than expected, doctors did not fear any detrimental effect on her life. “The date is merely a estimate” stated obstetrician Martini. After one final checkup, the Dochterman family was ready to bring their new sister home. Dressed in a blue “Polly Pocket” jumper in the arms of her mother, the family returned to their Lancaster County rancher.

Several months later, the sky was rainy and dark, as Katie hid beneath her baby blanket. John sat at the far end of his chair, cuddling his three boys in his arms. Outside raged a fierce storm responsible for a massive power outage in the local community. The [|meteorologist] blamed the storm on the potent currents that had recently occurred in the [|San Francisco Bay Area]. It was on that day, October 17, 1989 at 5 o’clock in the morning that one of the worst [|earthquakes] known to man struck the United States. With a flashlight in hand, John read sorrowfully the newspapers headline, **“**Quake killed 62 people, injured 3,757 and left more than 12,000 homeless.” The family held each other near, as the rain fell slowly upon the rooftop.

By that November, Katie was attempting to walk and anxiously awaiting her first [|Thanksgiving] on earth.

On the news, her parents watched history in the making when [|East Germany] agreed to unite with [|West Germany], and the infamous [|Berlin Wall] dividing the German capital was dismantled. Later, [|Hungary], [|Czechoslovakia] and [|Poland] followed in the same footsteps and abandoned their [|communist] systems in mid December.

At this time stores were open late and the town was covered in tinsel and holly. At the Dochterman home, the family was ready to celebrate yet another [|Christmas]. [|Sega Genesis], and [|Nintendo Game Boys] were given to the boys whereas [|Polly Pockets] were gifted to the “baby girl,” said Denise. “We had never had a Christmas so bright.”

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the “family was anxiously awaiting a new year,” stated grandfather Edwin Spackman. “We couldn’t wait to see what 1990 had in store!” On December 30, 1989 Katie lied (lay) asleep in her father’s arms as the family watched attentively as the ball dropped and the [|new] [|year] rang in with silent laughter.

By this time, economic crisis and mass protests in the [|Soviet] and Communist led Eastern Europe had reached its breaking point. Under the new presidency of [|George Herbert Walker Bush], U.S.S.R. Communist President [|Mikhail Gorbachev] agreed to work to alleviate tensions between the two states. Three years later, Bush’s term came to an end. His legacy at the [|Malta Summit] in 1989, was the first sign that the infamous [|Cold World] was finally coming to end.

News broadcasts were not the only television shows the Dochterman family watched that year. Among the families favorites were the “[|Cosby’s],” “[|Golden Girls],” “[|60 Minutes],” “[|Who’s the Boss],” “[|Unsolved Mysteries],” “[|America’s Funniest Home Videos],“ “[|NFL Monday Night Football],” and the much revered “[|Coach].” In a house of four boys and two girls Katie, “was always around sports,” said Denise. Whether on television or merely a game of catch, Katie always loved the competitive atmosphere.

Thus, it was no surprise that that April, the family viewed the baseball ‘movie of the decade,’ or so coined by movie critics. “[|Field of Dreams]” told the story of a man who received a message from the afterlife. After this revelation, Kinchella ([|Costner]) builds a baseball diamond out of an eroded cornfield. The story touched a particular cord among baby boomer, (Remove this comma) John Dochterman. “I had never seen a movie of faith, forgiveness, and redemption as much as this film portrayed,” stated the long-time baseball coach. If only his daughter could have grasped the same meaning. Denise says that Katie was intrigued by the sport aspect of the film, but often would fall asleep when no action occurred. “What do you expect,” chuckles Denise, “she was only nine months old!”

Later, the family returned to the theatre in mid June to view [|Tim Burton’s], “[|Batman].” Jonathan, Daniel, and Andrew wanted to arrive an hour early to sit in the front row, remarked, John. The three boys could barely stay in their seats as Katie rested on her mother(')s lap. Jonathan, now eight years old, had just received a boom box for his birthday. Cunningly he yanked it out of his mother(')s purse and turned on the device. On the radio came the smash hit, “[|Toy] [|Soldiers],” followed by “[|When I See You Smile]” by [|Bad English]. The three boys bopped in their seats to the song, and Daniel even picked up the diminutive child and began dancing. The movie began shortly after and Katie fell asleep in the arms of her big brother.

It is June 30, 1990, the night before Katie’s first birthday. In the company of her mother, father and three siblings, the family arrived at the district championship baseball game at Kunckle Field. The team is doing well, and the student section begins a chant, “We’re number one! We’re number one!” Katie is sitting nearby. She is puzzled by the cheer. At one point, in the midst of “We’re number one!” Katie rises and yells, “Mama, what’s wrong with being number two?” Denise stands, snatching the little girl in her arms, “nothing, my dear, nothing at all.” Katie makes her way between her parents and stands on the blanket next to her brothers. Astonished her parents stare at her flabbergasted. At last, Katie sits down, smiling and triumphant.

The sun sets and the day is through, as Katie and her family scurry home to bed.

The next morning Katie awakens to a prodigious stuffed elephant laying (lying in repose) repose in her bed. Anxiously, she throws herself out of her door and down the steps to the living room. There stands her mother, father, and three brothers. “Surprise!” they yell and Katie laughs gaily. After a nutritious breakfast, Katie follows her mother to the powder room. With her assistance, she dresses in a charming “[|Little Mermaid]” dress. On her head she wears a birthday crown and long, [|retro] clip-on earrings given to her from her beloved grandma. Her feet are covered by laced ruffled socks, accompanied by patent leather shoes. Katie is now ready for her party.

As the guests pour in, Katie dances to Paula Abdul’s smash hit, “[|Straight] [|Up].” Around and around she goes, until she is snatched up in the arms of her father. “It’s time for cake,” cries John and Katie scurries into the dining room. The room is composed of family, friends, old neighbors, new neighbors, cousins, uncles, aunts, but most of all love. With one triumphant breath Katie blows out the candle, even before the singing commences. The room is filled with laughter, as Denise relights the cake. Bewildered, Katie’s uncle states, “A birthday, isn’t a birthday without a wish.” Beaming, she closes her eyes and with one potent breath the light fades.

Now, eighteen candles later, Katie Denise Dochterman will be graduating from Manheim Township High School in the Spring. In the fall she plans on attending Millersville University, majoring in elementary education and child psychology. As an active member in her community and school, Katie was quoted as wanting to make a difference in the world. When asked if she remembered her first birthday, she smiled, and stated, “vaguely.” But when asked what she wished for that birthday, Katie did not flounder for words. “In that moment, I didn’t want the newest toy or movie. In that moment, all I wanted was that feeling of love and security I had and felt on my first birthday.” “Was that your wish?” asked the obsequious reporter. Katie, snickered. “I cannot tell you, for we all know a wish said out loud never comes true.”





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