Luck came to us the following week. My uncle, Joe, came to visit for 3 days while attending a medical conference. Joe, my dad's brother, was one of my favourites because of his laid back, fun loving nature and his habit of doling out all of the change he had in his pockets to my brothers and myself whenever he came to visit. On this particular visit, Joe became my personal saviour.

As a kid, I had learned of Joe's story through low whispers among the adults tea time and over family dinners when I was finally old enough to sit at the 'big people' table. Joe had been 18 when he'd gotten his 15 year old girlfriend pregnant. Her family had actually sent her to a home for unwed mothers, but Joe 'busted' her out and they went to stay with her aunt who was sympathetic to their plight. They married 2 months before the baby was born and have been married for 16 years, going on to have 4 more children. He managed to put himself through medical school, becoming a pediatrician while his wife, Carol, finished her highschool diploma through night courses and had recently begun taking courses to get her teaching certificate. Half of the family revered them as heroes, dragging themselves out of a horrid situation and rising to the top. The other half still treated them like they were 15 and 18, gossiping about every perceived wrong, believing that it was only luck, not hard work that landed them where they were. As for me—I couldn't help but like them. They were kind people who obviously adored each other and their children. If they had managed to make it despite the odds, why couldn't Anna and I?

I was able to get Joe out of the house on the pretense of discussing the possibility of a career in medicine. My mother was over the moon to hear about my 'plans' and shooed Joe and I out of the house so that we could talk over 'coffee' at the local café. Joe was also impressed, beaming even, when we sat down in a red vinyl booth seat.

'Dominic, I had no idea you were interested in medicine," Joe said so enthusiastically that I felt a pang of guilt for lying to him. "There are so many different paths you could take. For instance, pediatrics is a field that is becoming high in demand these days, but surgery is also an exciting choice. Then there is the ever growing field of medical research….' Joe's voiced trailed off. I looked up when I noticed he had stopped speaking. I felt a blush creep into my cheeks when I realized he knew I hadn't been listening very closely. Joe looked at me intently for a full two minutes before speaking again

'How many months pregnant is she?' he asked, his voice tinged with sympathy.

I knew there was no point in trying to deny anything. Better to put my cards on the table now.

'The baby is due in April.' I couldn't even look him in the eye. I couldn't help but feel shame, embarrassment, a sense of desperation. Yet, underlying it all, there was such an overwhelming sensation of hope burbling up from within, I was afraid that Joe would quash it with a few simple words.

Joe whistled long and hard. 'Awww kid. You've got a tough road ahead of you. You know that don't you?'

'Yes, I know.' I still couldn't help but avoid his gaze.

'Are you sure this is what you want?' he asked, looking out the window. 'Because there are other options. Have you really, really thought about what this will mean? The sacrifices you—both of you—will be making? You know I am not preaching from a soapbox Dom. I've been there in the trenches. I can't even begin to tell you what you will go through.'

I mustered all of the nerve I could and looked Joe straight in the eye.

'I love her and I love this child. There is nothing more I need to know.' I replied forcefully. Hearing the tone of my voice, Joe turned to look at me. I adjusted my tone, adding, 'Well, nothing I need to know except…..can you help me?' I held my breath while waiting for his answer. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long.

Breaking into a smile, Joe reached over and squeezed my shoulder.

"Well, there's no need for a second opinion in this case. You need an expert and you have found one. Now,' he said taking a notebook and pen out of his coat pocket, a wide grin breaking across his face. 'Let's see what you're going to need.'

Finally, the possibilities seemed within reach. I felt lighter than I had in days and I knew we were going to make it.