Days 18 & 19 - STEPS
Tomorrow Redden will be 7 weeks old. At his 4 week birthday we were told he had cancer. At 5 weeks we learned he couldn't breathe on his own as his tumor had grown rapidly and was hurting him. And at the 6 week mark everything changed for the amazing.
Now at his 7 week birthday we are celebrating being back in the Cancer Center. I can't believe how much our little hero has done in that short time on earth. The picture above is from his first few seconds in our new bed last night. He's showing off his newest development milestone - nonstop smiling. He smiled, coo'd and reached for me for at least 2 hours last night. Seriously? He's got cancer and he's this delightful?!? Makes me rethink how I react to basically... EVERYTHING... in life.
I was both thrilled and scared to walk out of the PICU. After staring at his monitor for over 2 weeks, watching every fluctuation, learning which beeps are the 'bad ones', I walked down the hall and thought... can we do this? Can we take care of him without 24 hour surveillance?
I can't say enough about our PICU team. Their level of care and concern was unmatched. There are moments from that time that I will forever hold in my heart... The nurse that sang to him our first night to comfort him. The doctor that cried with us and said 'kids like Red are the reason I come to work each day.' The nurse that made him a mobile over his crib so he would have something to look at. The doctor that came in and said 'are you ok?' and sat with us to just let us talk through our fears. The many hands that held him gently. The ones that came in on their days off to check on him. The way they all laughed and played with him when he came off the ventilator. How they took an extra long time getting us transferred because they said they just wanted to spend time with him.
We learned firsthand there's something special about the people that care for children as their career. We have newfound levels of respect and gratitude for how they all loved our little guy.
After weeks of such slow movement and progress, the last few days have been a magical whirlwind of good news and steps in the right direction. Yesterday they took his oxygen cannula off. Then his last IV. Today the sensors came off. The PICC line was capped off. The pulse ox removed. The blood pressure cuff put to the bedside. And tonight we're down to just his feeding tube.
And I got to hold him in our bed in the Cancer Center, on my chest. And Daddy got to see his big smile not covered by any tape or tubes. It's in those moments that we forget that he has cancer.
All we see is our baby.
Today is World Cancer Day. This holiday will never be lost on me again. So today, for Red, for my Mom, for my Aunt, for our Grandparents, and for my best friend, today is honoring their strength in their fight with cancer. My heroes.
Comments (22)
Praising God with you! Our family is praying for you all, and it is such a joy to see these pictures and hear of Red's progress!
We are rejoicing with you as you see Redden grow stronger! Your family is in our prayers....there are so many people that are holding you up in prayer as you travel this road...we all rejoice as we see the miracles that are happening in little Redden's life! Sue Siewert (Amber Mesfin's Mom)
Thank you, God! What a perfect, precious little boy.
He looks wonderful! Praise God!
Rejoicing with you! Beautiful report! I pray you see MILLIONS and MILLIONS and MILLIONS more of his adorable smiles!
What a beautiful, precious boy Redden is! What a blessing to be able to see his joy. He looks radiant. A dear, elderly friend of mine says of children, "they come to us smart", meaning it's amazing to see how much our little babies know. He's showing you, and you're sharing with us, how his joy despite his circumstances can lead to a better way to fight this battle! I praise God for his improvement thus far and continue to ask for His healing upon Redden.
Simply amazing! Elated to hear this news, hallelujah!
Thank God for Red, Doctors, Nurses his parents and being here in the United States.
Love you guys!! So happy for Redden's progress!! May it continue even faster.
Answered prayers...I am so so so so happy and relieved for you guys. I can't wait to hear news of this guy coming home. Stay strong mom & dad, you are doing an incredible job!
More happy tears at your beautiful words...your beautiful redden....may you all slowly move forward in this wonderful world...and treasure and savor every moment.....picturing the day he goes home with you to his patient loving brothers....ahhhhh, priceless. You are blessed to have been surrounded by such a team of medical personnel ( and yes all doctors,nurses etc who work with the ill are a special breed,god bless them🙏)and your loving family and friends...and your undying faith! 💜💝💘
Joyous tears, my friend. I look forward to seeing you all again, and I continue to pray for Redden's full recovery.
He is such a special little baby!!! I know you are enjoying holding him so much :) I've cried with each update but they've turned to tears of happiness for his amazing progress.
Redden's smile could light up a room! What a beautiful boy! So appreciative of your posted pictures. Sending prayers of thanks giving for these recent improvements and good test results.....and for more continued progress. Hugs.
Indiana prayers continue to come your way. So glad things are improving. Look at those eyes and that smile--just adorable. Barbara and Phil Prieshoff
Thank you for sharing your story and the beautiful photographs of your little boy with the world. <3
Amen.
Those precious smiles and that beautiful face brought tears to my eyes. May God continue to fill you with His love and strength as you continue on this wall with His most precious gift to you, Red. You and your family will continue in my prayers. Thanks you for taking the time to update us on your son's progress.
Radiant Red---and a radiant smile. Thank you for sharing this journey. Blessed be God.
So happy to see Redden smiling! I thank God everyday, On and off all day long for all the blessings he's given us. The gift of my wonderful family. The gift of my wonderful grandchildren. The gift of life and how precious it is to enjoy every minute in everyday. I feel blessed that Redden is in the right place for the best of care. He is truly a warrior. Smiling with all he's been through, should teach us all something. Patience in God's time. How this little bundle of Joy can be a light for all of us when you look through his beautiful eyes. I see God shining through, giving us a message. LOVE.
I agree! PICU and NICU workers are extra special. And who could not LOVE that grin????? So happy for that sweet boy and his sweet family.
So happy for Redden and your family!