I am currently sitting on the bench at the back of my son’s hospital room. Three days ago he had open heart surgery to correct a his atrial ventricular heart defect. He has just had his breathing tube removed and he is doing great. During that procedure however, I was not. I stood frozen in the door way, hands covering my eyes even though I was peeking through. I was unable to help my crying little baby while 4 nurses and a doctor huddled around him to ensure he was doing fine as they took him off the device that was making sure he kept breathing. The doctor turned around once he was satisfied, saw me and said “Oh my goodness mom, don’t worry, he is doing great. Crying means he is breathing.”
Read MoreTonight is the eve of World Down Syndrome Day, and it is the first year I have ever actually known of its existence. I now tally this up to ignorance and a general “head in the sand” experience I have had to anyone who is vastly different than me in the past. Leading up to this day has been a mix of emotions for me. I have enjoyed seeing the new community I have been thrust into, celebrated so beautifully. I have heard countless stories of many family’s experiences, and how children and adults with Down syndrome are thriving as they navigate this crazy life. But I have also experienced a heaviness. A heaviness of uncertainty.
Read MoreThe past few weeks have been interesting ones. I think whenever we have trials in our own lives, it makes us more sensitive to other people in our lives. I find myself able to read other people easier, or when I reach out and ask for prayer, I get a list back of things to pray about for the other person.
I am learning to see what a great blessing this has been for me, while I have been experiencing pain. I have found great rest in community of saying, I too have been hurting. It has allowed me to take my eyes off myself for a moment and push my arm under the load a friend is carrying and try to make it a little lighter.
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