My youngest sister is so sweet. She e-mailed me the prayer to St. Gerard, below, saying that she is praying for me.

O Great St. Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of thy meek and humble Saviour, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that Heavenly fire of charity which glowed in thee and made thee a seraph of love. O glorious St. Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, thou didst bear, like thy Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, thou hast been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers. Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustrial waters of baptism, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

What my baby sister most likely does not know is that the day I gave birth to my third child (there were known complications beforehand, so I was induced), my parents and my uncle arrived at my house early in the morning and my mom gave me a holy card of St. Gerard. I have been crying, remembering my mom (my sister’s namesake) and reminiscing about the birth of my third child. He was the last one of my children whose birth my mom attended. May my beautiful mother rest in peace!