Saturday, June 16, 2007

A bittersweet moment

Five and a half weeks from being admitted at the hospital, Aiden was going to be released! What a trying time it was for both.

Aiden is the type of kid, who when he is finished with something, he no longer wants it. Chest tubes, central lines, feeding tubes. He didn't care, he wanted them out, so he would remove them when he deemed himself ready. There was no discussing it with his team of doctors.

When you are in a place like a hospital for so long, you can't help to become friends with other families who are also there. We bacame friends with so many families the two times we have been in OKC. Our first time there, when Aiden was born, we became friends with other "premie" families. And when one family leaves, tears are shed, but friendships are formed that will last forever. You cried with them, you laughed with them. Our second trip there, there were more families. Shanan and her daughters Taylor, Paris, and Tiffany. Taylor has leukemia. Michelle and Trenton. Trenton has a brain tumor. Michelle and Trenton went home first. Then Aiden and I were released.

The day we were to leave, Shanan helped me take things to my truck. When it came time to say our good-byes, there were tears in both of our eyes. Each of our kids became the other's kid. I would check in on Taylor and she would check in on Aiden. We still keep in touch weekly to see how the kids are doing.

1 Letters to the editor:

  1. I know - I too became very close to the families in the NICU where Elliot lived, and touched others' lives, for two weeks. Their children/families touched ours as well. I do still stay in touch, and also stay in touch with Elliot's primary NICU nurse. Amazing how "difficulty" brings people together. Hugs to you!
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