The story of Deena S. Borzak
Our daughter was born fourteen weeks early on Shabbat Shuva, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the time when you do t'shuva , return to a state of grace by repenting. We named her Maya Dorielle Shuva. Dorielle for generation of God. And Maya, which in Aramaic means waters from God. If nothing else, Maya's birth was that. She was awash in waters from God...
Maya was born with down all over her like a baby chick and we watched her develop outside the womb. We saw her skin lose its translucence. Next, her eyes opened and finger and toe nails developed. I felt like it she was one of those exhibits from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Only this was no exhibit. This was my child and we had no guarantees...
Of all the holidays, Sukkot is my favorite. Also called zman simchateynu -- time of our joy -- Sukkot is a week of partying, of welcoming people into your house and being welcomed into theirs. It's just what the name says, a time of joy. We made so many friends that Sukkot week following Maya's birth. Everyone was praying for her. Her survival became a community project. We were never alone in this crisis of Maya's birth....
