Two years ago
Two years ago today my son was born, We had known early on that it would be traumatic--He was diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and had a low survival chance. Over 50% of all diaphragmatic hernias are fatal.
We said goodbye to our friends and family, and made the difficult decision to re-home our beloved pets. We moved 2,000 miles to find a hospital and team of doctors who could help boost the odds.
I don't remember breathing as the team of doctors and nurses worked with incredible precision and speed. In just a few minutes He was born, measured, and intubated. I had to watch as my wife lay open on the operating table while my new son and I were escorted to his room.
A nurse had to help me move, I don't know how my body was able to react, because my mind wasn't there.
3 days later
I watch again as my son was brought to the operating table. Hours later we were told that he was repaired and stable. We sat in his room and waited as teams of nurses watched over him 24 hours a day--checking the fleet of machines, tubing, and drugs being fed into his tiny body.
3 months later
We were ecstatic to hear that he was stable and healthy, and ready for his final exams. We were not expecting the bad news: His MRI showed a change in his brain structure. There was little chance he would ever speak, or walk on his own. But we were free to go home.
The Covid-19 Pandemic
We were lucky to have a stable son, and we were lucky to have been able to return to our home just days before the pandemic caused a worldwide panic and lockdown.
One Year Later
My son was growing and learning, and he was doing so much better than his medical team expected. He was officially diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, and he began to be able to walk on his own. He was misdiagnosed as being deaf, and we scrambled to learn ASL and schedule second opinions. He begain to grow and thrive.
Today
And today, my son turns two years old. He is strong, happy, and so incredibly capable of living his life to the fullest. He is a wonderful addition to our family. He is a wonderful addition to our home. He is a wonderful addition to our community. He is a wonderful addition to our country. He is a wonderful addition to our world.
