This little boy...

This little boy was born weighing less than a sack of sugar.  His skin was see through and his head was the size of a very small orange.  He was only as long as a ruler.

This little boy couldn't suckle on his own; couldn't breathe on his own; couldn't keep his body temperature at a safe point.  He "popped a lung" at three days old and had a tube inserted.  He needed three blood transfusions.  He needed tests, x-rays, MRI's.  This little boy was a fighter.  He didn't know that babies born so small weren't supposed to survive.  He didn't hear when they said that his first 72 hours were critical.  He didn't see them shake their heads and look at him with fear in their eyes.

This little boy thrived.  He was strong and he had a zest for life.  He heard his Daddy's voice and he felt the stroke of his mommy's hand. They were always by his side.  He saw the pictures his sisters had drawn for him.  He felt the love surrounding him.  He knew, somewhere deep down inside, that he needed to fight because his family needed him so very desperately.

This little boy spent 69 days in the NICU.  He learned to breathe on his own, to feed from a bottle and to regulate his temperature.  He was finally able to nestle in his mommy's arms, look for his daddy when he heard his voice and see his family members... sisters, grandmoms, poppops, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends... and he drew from their strength and their love.  He was strong enough to come home.

This little boy graduates from high school today.  He is healthy, strong, smart, athletic and incredibly handsome.  This little boy has basked in the love of his family and given back all that love and then some. He has achieved things no one would have ever dreamed he could.  Today this little boy becomes a man.  Congratulations...to all of us.  Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Comments

jeffreymwhite1 said…
This retelling gives me goosebumps, and tears in my eyes. Love to you

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