From the wee hours of Thursday the 5th of September

I forced myself to keep the homecoming  day at a distance. I shoved my laptop away and thought don’t think about Summit Blvd and nothing can interfere with our final day. Then came my birthday at the end of August. As a kid it was a reminder that summer had ended and it was back to the challenge of life’s structure. Then came my family once more to St. Louis, not in a rush but prepared. Bringing with them the reminder that their wait is equally as hard as what we have been facing. Celebration is one thing but celebrating triumph of this kind is rare.

Life in the Lou is changing. The days have shortened and the heat has lifted. He and I closed out the end of spring and put summer to bed. At times, daydreaming of home seemed like torture. Luckily I found stability in my son’s gratitude, the willingness of my family back home to make this work, phenomenal medical resources, and my niece and her fiancé both residents in the Lou who listened when needed but kept laughter as a must.

Catching a clip of the Arch on the way out of town drummed up some tears which is hard to determine just one cause. Accomplishment? Exhaustion? Frustration? Relief?  How about all of those. 
But the real answer is deeper. The magnitude of this summer goes without compare. Before leaving we received communication from the donor family and had the opportunity to respond. Their story is tragic but ended with a gift that gives with every continued breath my son is allowed. Someday soon we hope to honor the family that forever changed mine, from my parents generation, mine own, our kids’ and the generation yet to come. In the past I would wake up, say the words  “Courage to Accept” and move on with whatever our day would bring.  Now those words have changed to” Joy and Pain.” I continue to try and understand my family and theirs and to find a new balance in life.

Please Donate Life.