Mistakes Made
- Mistake No. 1: Host a sleepover for a bunch of girls at the Hilton in downtown Omaha to celebrate my daughter’s 12th birthday.
- Mistake No. 2: Devour three slices of deep-dish pizza and a hefty piece of chocolate cake while racing to catch the elevator.
- Mistake No. 3: Plead with the hotel shuttle driver to whisk us off to Starbucks.
- Mistake No. 4: While the younger girls happily sip their towering, frothy drinks, I sip a grande cup of Alka-Seltzer.
- Mistake No. 5: Back at our hotel room, they huddle around the TV to view The Theory of Everything. My theory? I need more cake.
Buzzing from sugar, I join the group. During the film’s most gut-wrenching moment, when Jane Hawking says, “I did the best I could,” the girls’ eyes glisten with tears. I can’t help but laugh. “Mom, go away,” my daughter, Lily, says as she points to the adjoining room. My daughter just sent me to my room.
A Journey of Change
Our life hasn’t always revolved around sleepovers and uncontrollable laughter. It wasn’t long ago that I was horrified by the styles marketed to 12-year-olds at stores like Forever 21. “You can’t be serious,” I said as she eyed a crop top and shorts that wouldn’t even cover, as my grandmother would say, her backside.
While pregnant, Lily was diagnosed with gastroschisis, a serious condition where the intestines develop outside the body. Our first home—and my second—was a New York City neonatal intensive care unit, where she spent seven months, relying on tube feeds and total parenteral nutrition, an IV solution that kept her alive but threatened her liver.
When Lily turned 3, I learned about Nebraska Medicine’s intestinal rehabilitation program in Omaha. The medical team anticipated we’d have a treatment plan within a week, maybe a few months at most. Before we left, our neighbor burst in and asked, “You’re moving to Oklahoma?” I’m a typical New Yorker, so I thought going away meant heading upstate. I had dreams of a SoHo loft with expansive windows, but I ended up in a Greenwich Village apartment where it seemed there were more Jews than in all of Nebraska. I achieved my goal of writing for New York magazine’s “Best Of” issues and covering dining for Time Out New York. Yet, my ultimate dream was always to be a mother.
A New Life in Omaha
Three months after relocating to Nebraska, my little girl’s liver failed, and she was placed on the transplant list for a small bowel, liver, and pancreas. She received her new organs on July 20, 2006—her “re-birthday.” Back then, I couldn’t even utter the term “transplant,” a daunting word I struggled to accept. But I realized the universe had its way of delivering what we need. Our exceptional transplant team proved to be just that. Consequently, we sold our New York home and purchased one in Omaha. I didn’t even pinpoint Omaha on a map until months later.
Many who knew our journey would exclaim, “You moved from New York to Omaha? Wasn’t that a culture shock?” Oh, absolutely. The first time a teenager sped by in a loud TransAm, I expected a rude gesture but was instead greeted with a wave. At Target, the cashier asked, “Need help with your bags?”
I’ve learned to appreciate the simplicity of life here: children playing outside until dark, five-minute rush hour traffic, and an affordable cost of living. I feel like I bought our first house with Monopoly money. Ironically, my clever girl has performed alongside Tony Award winners at the Holland Center, Omaha’s version of Carnegie Hall.
I’ve also transformed from a high-strung New Yorker—once desperate for a 212 area code to avoid the dreaded 646—to someone who creates space for help to arrive, like a caring aunt bearing snacks and kindness. When I encourage Lily to adjust her perspective and embrace what is (“Feel the fear and let it flow through you,” I advise), she quips, “Buddhist.”
Finding Home
Now, as I fly into Omaha and gaze at the skyline (which I humorously refer to as “The Building”), I still yearn for my Manhattan. However, I’ve realized that home is a state of mind, and a city girl can flourish outside her comfort zone, provided she has love—and a bit of Alka-Seltzer.
This story originally appeared on Home Insemination Kit and explores the emotional journey of motherhood. For those considering starting a family, resources like Mayo Clinic’s overview of intrauterine insemination and boosting fertility supplements can provide valuable information.
Summary
In this heartfelt reflection, Jamie Parker recounts her journey from New York City to Omaha, driven by her daughter’s medical challenges. As she navigates the complexities of motherhood and the stark contrasts between urban and rural life, Jamie discovers that home is not defined by geography but by love, resilience, and the support of a community.
Keyphrase: Moving from New York to Omaha
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