Elijah's Heart Journey: Day 21

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Day 21

Today was quite the day. Elijah's x-ray looked good and it appears that the effusion has once again disappeared. The team lifted his fluid limit and he was able to drink as much of whatever he wanted. He was so, so happy. The plan was to check his x-ray in the morning and if everything continued to look good, they would pull his chest tube out tomorrow and wean more diuretics. However, when the surgical team rounded this afternoon, they decided that Elijah was ready to get rid of the chest tube tonight! The chest tube that has been in him for three freaking weeks was going to come out.

Let me tell you that holding your son down as he gets a chest tube pulled out of his chest is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. But I would not want to be anywhere else. After it was done and the nurse finished placing the bandage, I was able to hold Elijah chest to chest for the first time in three weeks. It was amazing. I was able to hold him like babies are meant to be held. He curled up into my chest as if he belonged there. It was perfect.

1 comment:

UnknownJuly 3, 2015 at 12:46 AM
Yay Team Coley!! So very happy for Noah & Elijah. You boys make your mommy and daddy so very happy. Probably to the moon and back! Keep feeling better Elijah and know that both Noah and Elijah are some very special little boys. Love, Kellie R. xoxo <3 <3 <3 <3
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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."