Don’t Blink-Time Waits for No One
Last night was New Year’s Eve. While many people my age were out with family or friends, I was quietly reflecting on where I was 12 years ago.
It was New Year’s Eve 2009, and my nine-month-old son was recovering from brain surgery. A few weeks prior he had a surgery that initially went well, but recovery went sideways. There were complications which created the need for more brain surgery which had him fighting for his life on that very day. There was no certainty he was going to live through the night. I wasn’t sure how I could face a new year without my little one joining me.
I was all alone that night in the pediatric intensive care unit as my son wrestled in his crib. I don’t remember why my spouse wasn’t with me, but it was like that many nights we were in the hospital. It was quiet on the floor. There were no bells and whistles. No cheers and no confetti. With an infant, the lights were dimmed and there was no television allowed. It was just him completely sedated and me, pacing the floor. I really believed I was going to wear a path through the tile. We had an amazing nurse which made my trepidation palatable. It was a long night of no sleep and lots of prayers.
It was a longer road of additional surgeries, 1000s of hours of therapies, and so much time enhancing my kiddos’…
