Photography by Trisha Davidge | Article by Sandie Tillery | Enjoy Magazine May 2010
Through the years she has come to think of herself as a “professional comforter.” Nora McNeill has a large circle of friends built through her career in nursing and midwifery, her church and as a very involved mother. From her house, she can see the front doors of daughter Joanna, son Chuck and mother Ruth’s homes. Leah, another daughter, lives across town and comes regularly to share in family meals. One of the defining character qualities that motivates her relationships is compassion.
A registered nurse and state-licensed midwife, McNeill felt early on what she considers a high calling, the natural outflow of her helping and nurturing nature. She began teaching childbirth classes in 1975 and shortly after that, assisted for the first time during a friend’s home birth. She has assisted with more than 900 home births during the 35 years that she has been in practice. A steady flow of women continue to call for McNeill’s services, which used to be her “other” job along with a full-time career in a variety of healthcare environments. Now it is how she schedules her life. “Catching” babies is all in a day’s work for McNeill.
Overseeing the birthing of a second generation of babies now, McNeill describes the most important role she plays as “helping women expand their self-limitations; then the mechanics of birthing just happen.” Her job, she feels, is “being sure the vessel can do its job—emotionally, physically, spiritually. “ The months of checkups and childbirth preparation she provides help women deal with their fears and “connect women with the natural process.” During prenatal visits, she coaches women about preventive healthcare, focusing on nutrition, exercise and stress management.
McNeill recorded 29 births in 2009, her busiest year ever, with 10 in January alone – a rare and exhausting schedule, she says. The clientele often surprises those who think that home birth appeals predominantly to folks pursuing alternative lifestyles. Approximately 75 percent of her clients use private insurance to pay her fee and she guesses that 50 percent of her clients have professional careers.
Delivering babies, however, is just a part of McNeill’s full life. The home she has renovated overlooks the eastern mountains and provides a panoramic view of the city of Redding, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and on down the valley toward Anderson. From the upper deck, the restful sounds of water cascading through river rock can be heard as a man-made streambed weaves its way under and around the multi-tiered decking and lush garden to the pond below. On a recent tour, McNeill pointed out her beautifully restored piano, multi- paned front door with stained glass insets, and original artwork. McNeill has enjoyed the process of renovation, but now relaxes in a comfortable and homey enclave she loves to share with others.
McNeill’s mother encouraged a far more frivolous and impractical passion to take root not many years ago that actually began during her childhood. Her father had restored a 1931 Model A convertible that each of his children were allowed to drive as long as they earned at least a “B” average. After she married, husband Mike bought a weekly $1 lottery ticket promising that the winnings would go toward the purchase of a convertible, a dream she has harbored since she learned to drive in the Model A. Though Mike couldn’t fulfill his promise before his untimely death in 2001, McNeill decided to rekindle her childhood passion when she purchased a 2004 Nissan 350Z convertible with less than 5,000 miles.
Less romantic than she’d hoped, but every bit a dream come true, it is no longer just a classy car. She has added a high performance 400-horsepower turbo engine, dressed up wheels, new grille and clutch plates made out of carbon fiber. For those who know such things, she owns the only Nissan convertible with Nismo trim pieces, making it very unique “eye candy.” “It is totally insane the stuff I’ve done to my car,” she says.
Nora McNeill has traveled all over the world. She became a personal trainer in her quest for health and balance and a broader perspective in her own life. She says she fully appreciates the view from her top deck. The panorama of her life broadens as she shares her comforting gifts and skills with new mothers and fathers, friends and her own close-knit family.
