Elijah's Heart Journey: Fenestration what????

Friday, June 12, 2015

Fenestration what????

So first let me tell you that today sucked. I mean royally sucked. Basically, Elijah's numbers went completely wonky this morning and he made everyone, and I mean everyone, work for their money. At one point we had 20 people in his little room trying to figure out what was going on with him. Although they discovered that his fenestration had indeed closed (say whaaaatttt! who knew this could happen????), they agreed that they did not think that this was the problem. After a big pow wow and some serious argument, his team believed that if they backed off of his meds, added another chest tube to address the fluid in his lungs, and gave him some time, he may be able to adjust. So far, so good. They took a different approach and he has been responding well. His chest tube dumped a large volume of fluid and his breathing became far less labored. He is still being supported by a great deal of oxygen and quite a few meds, but he is stable. Hopefully, he will remain this way throughout the night so that he will be stronger in the morning. His night nurse is amazing so I am hoping he will continue to rest throughout the night.

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The Chosen Mothers by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."