the best mother's day gift - part 2

this the second part of the story of how i got the best gift. in case you missed it, read the first part.

i went back to work, thinking that he would survive on the donated breastmilk and the milk that i have pumped (which has depleted to just an ounce a day).  two weeks later, we were back at the hospital because jackjack was very sick. everytime we fed him, the milk would just pass through his iliostomy site. it was like pouring water thru a sieve, nothing was retained. he was also very cold. he only weighed 4lbs.

at the hospital, the doctors couldnt find any vein to insert an IV line, so they inserted an NGT and let it drip there. the other jugular vein was used for a line. he was immediately transferred to the NICU. he was put under the light, the same one used for jaundiced babies, and was wrapped in a space blanket to keep him warm.he was hooked up to all kinds of IVs. he was fed milk thru his NGT at a very slow pace and nutrition was fed in his veins. i prayed that if he was mine to keep, let him get better. but if he wasnt meant to stay, let it be a peaceful passing. i constantly prayed for strength and acceptance.

throughout this time, the hubby continued to work even if he was worried sick about his son. i had quit my job to be beside jackjack. i slept at the NICU, with the only the nurses and the beeping sounds of the machines to keep me company.

when he was stable a week later, he was allowed to go to a regular room but we werent allowed to go home. the doctors feared that he might dehydrated again and they may not be able to save him the next time. the plan was to get jackjack gain weight and be strong enough for his ilium reconstruction surgery. so the continuous, yet slow, feeding and the IV drips went on. three weeks later and at 8lbs, the surgeon decided to do the surgery so his body can absorb and heal better. the surgery was scheduled two days before mother's day that year.

the night before the surgery, i prayed with the hubby and talked to our son. he was looking at us intently as we told him that we loved him and we were so happy we were his parents. his dad told him it would be mom's day soon, my first, and the best gift that jackjack could give me was for him to survive the surgery and to get better. that night, i slept carrying him.

as i was waiting for the nurses to take him, the anesthesiologist told me that one thing she is hoping for is that jackjack would wake up from the surgery by himself. this is a sign that nothing went wrong and  he's on the road to recovery. she, then, took him. the hubby had work that day, but my dad came to keep me company. he knew i hadnt slept much and that the surgery would take at least three hours, so he encouraged me to take a nap. he'd wake me when the surgery's done. i slept peacefully, something i hadnt done in weeks. i have raised my child to the Lord; thy will be done.

my dad nudged me awake and said i had to talk to the doctors. what happened? did something go wrong? did he have a seizure on the table? is my son still alive? as the elevator door opened, i saw my son. the surgeon smiled as he said , "it was successful. happy mother's day." they also told me that as soon as the happy gas was removed, he had started to wake up. he started stirring and reaching out to me when he heard my voice! he only stayed at the NICU post-surgery for eight hours before he was wheeled back into the room. a week later, they sent us home.

that was the best gift: his second lease on life. someday, i'll tell my son the story of how he got the "smile" on his tummy.

what was the best gift you have ever received on mother's day?