As I am writing this column, Sandy is at the hospital with our friends Jasmine and David because this is a very important day in their lives. Today, Jasmine will undergo a cesarean section to give birth to their child.

Today is such an amazing and life altering day for Jasmine and David. This morning, they were a couple with a child on the way – and now – they are parents. From the moment their child enters the world to the day he becomes an adult, it is now Jasmine and David’s responsibility to raise, nurture and care for that child – a child that they conceived with their love.

I am so proud of Jasmine and David. They have come so far in the last nine months. It seems as if in the time period that their child was growing inside of Jasmine – they both did a lot of growing too.

I met Jasmine through my friends Mark and Renee. When I met her, I thought she was a very sweet girl who was destined for so much more then she had. From that first time I sat and talked with her, I could tell that she was a girl who had a lot of dreams that had yet to be fulfilled by no fault of her own. There are times when life’s dreams have to be put on hold due to unforeseen obstacles – and I could tell that many obstacles were thrown at her for someone so young. So, I gave her my card and told her that if she ever needed anything, to not hesitate to call – a few months later – she did.

When she called me, she informed me that she was looking for a new job and asked me if there was anything I could do to help her. While I was on the phone with her, I remembered that Sandy’s office was looking for a receptionist and gave Sandy a call. Sandy spoke to her boss and got Jasmine the job.

Although the job Sandy got Jasmine was only temporary, it got Jasmine the money and the experience she needed to get a job of her own – but it also did something else. It created a bond between Sandy and Jasmine that is now so impenetrable – that Sandy took a day off from work to be at the side of her new friend while she brought her first child into the world.

Although this child is David and Jasmine’s – Sandy is as excited as if this child was her own. Besides the fact that she wants children more then any woman I’ve ever met, she is as excited as of this child was her own because she has been there for this child every step of the way.

When Jasmine became pregnant, she and David really didn’t have the means necessary to raise a child. They both did not have an income that would be adequate to raise a child, they had very little resources and hardly anyone to turn to. So Sandy stepped in. She wrote to a bunch of baby companies and got them to donate everything from a brand new stroller to coupons for baby stuff, she got friends and family to donate baby necessities from a bassinet to toys and clothes – and she even threw Jasmine a baby shower. But more importantly, she gave Jasmine something that she really needed – she became the “big sister” that Jasmine didn’t have – but really needed at this important time in her young life. I am very proud of Sandy for that.

And now, they are all at the hospital awaiting the birth of this child that has so many people ready to love him. People that a few months ago, hardly even knew each other – and now – are family.

Congratulations Jasmine and David – all my love always. And by the way – I hear Paul is a great name for a boy.