There is an idiom that has permeated a great deal of my brain-space lately. Customarily, the phrase is spoken whenever a person or group has faced a grueling circumstance and is nearing the much awaited point of deliverance. It is a popular saying--a mainstay for bi-standers (a.k.a. 'outside observers'). The idiomatic phrase is commonly associated [...]
Lhorraine's Prayer Tree is growing, and so is her joy. Now, please don't misunderstand me: She is not 100% yet. She still cries whenever she thinks about the night her prized pregnancy was ripped away from her. Looking through pictures of Jesher's early days still triggers negative emotions and heartbreak. She still whispers the words [...]
I had an inaugural experience that I must share! I got home-sick because I began missing my son. In all transparency, I didn't think this could happen to me. Previously, there was only one human that could cause my heart to throb in this way--my wife Lhorraine. Outside of her, only inanimate amenities could affect [...]
There is a running debate going among Jesher's nurses. The discussion isn't volatile or abrasive; however, it is spirited. I personally think they are about one week away from setting the odds and accepting wagers. The controversy is rising! The dispute is growing! At the center of the discourse is Jesher's face and one intriguing [...]
Jesher is now 71 days old! He has come along way since we were told he would probably not make it through his first night. Yes, Jesher faced Mount Everest during his first 72 hours; however, I have seen faith move his mountains one peak at a time! Our son is proof that miracles do [...]
Jesher is now wearing clothes, but I don't want him to get completely comfortable in them. If his care-providers heard me say this out-loud, they would deem this statement NICU blasphemy! Wearing clothes is a significant milestone for preemies. It represents improvement, optimism, and expectation. Once in clothes, a NICU baby begins to manage their [...]
"Happy Mother's Day!" greeted the wide-eyed receptionist. I cringed a bit because I knew her enthusiasm for the day far out-weighed my wife's enthusiasm for the occasion. "Are you going to hold him as your own personal gift to yourself?" another nurse chimed, matching the eagerness exhibited by the first. They were both smiling ear-to-ear; [...]
From my earliest memories, I have always loved the National Basketball Association [NBA]. I can remember rooting for Michael Jordan as he struggled against the "Bad Boy" Pistons. I remember transitioning from "Air" Jordan to Clyde "the glide" Drexler, wanting him to finally win a championship. I remember being amazed by the clutch, three-point shooting [...]
I caught myself pouting the other day, and I didn't feel guilty about it. I was overseeing Jesher's care as a nurse attempted to calm him down. Since being moved from a ventilator to a CPAP [Continuous Positive Air Pressure] machine, Jesher has been noticeably agitated. And I can't blame him! The contraption requires him [...]
This past week, I celebrated a birthday (May 3rd), and, when the time to make a wish arrived, only one request came to mind: “God, please make my son healthy and my wife happy.” Now this is not a normal practice for me. Over the past three decades, I have NEVER used a birthday wish [...]
Prayers for Jesher 