Thank God

Last night after Will went to bed, Craig & I were watching a new TV show called Hopkins about real-life medical cases at Johns Hopkins Hospital. There was a 2 year old boy who had an enlarged heart causing stress to his body. You'd never know it to look at him - he looked like a healthy, active toddler - and the parents were in shock, as they had only known for a few days when the show was filmed. Doctors weren't sure he would survive a transplant but also knew he would die with the one he had. They weren't sure they were going to go through with the procedure at first but later decided it was his best/only chance. The family waited on the transplant list and finally got one - which means another family somewhere in the world lost their little child in order for this heart to be available. The procedure was successful and the little boy went home 2 weeks later.

Throughout the show Craig & I were tearful and sorrowful and sympathetic for this family. We cannot imagine something so scary happening to our baby. It could happen to anyone. And yet we feel sorry for ourselves and complain when something miniscule goes wrong. We are lucky enough to have no idea what it's like to walk in that (or any other) family's shoes when a life-threatening illness is diagnosed to their child.

When the show ended, Craig & I tip-toed in to Will's darkened room and peaked into the crib where our healthy baby slept and breathed peacefully. Thank God. Thank God. Thank God. I wanted so badly to pick him up and hug him tight, but instead I just prayed. A prayer of thanks for the blessings we have and a prayer of hope for the families dealing with such tragedy.