Little Brave

Michael has been a champ handling his chemotherapy so far.  Dr. Foreman says babies might seem fragile, but from an oncologist's point of view, they are actually "tough as nails."  I'd almost forget what we are doing here, except for the kid who was puking violently in the room next door, or another child who went into a full out rage in the hallway, or the teenagers curled up on the beds, sicker than ever, or the life-flight helicopter roaring overhead, or the Hat Tree in the lobby.

You'd almost think Michael was a normal kid with how smiley and happy he is, babbling like crazy.  But when we take off his hat, we see his head that looks like this, and then we remember all he has been through.

The large butterfly looking needle that inserts into his mediport

He is our little Brave.  I was intrigued a couple of years ago after reading A Mother's Book of Secrets, by Linda and Shawni Eyre, with the idea of telling stories about a family that lives in Mirrorland - inside the of the mirrors, that looks just like ours but they go by different names.  I'd line up the kids in front of the mirror and tell them all about the "friend" they could see in the mirror that looked just like them, but lived in a different world.  The family that looked just like ours had the names Fun (dad), Cookies (mom), Butterfly (Sarah), Sparkles (Whitney) and Tiger (Spencer).  When Mikey was born, the kids asked me many times what Mikey's "friend's" name was in Mirrorland.  I couldn't think of what would fit him for the longest time and we started calling him "Bear" when he was about 5 months old because it was the only thing that I could think of. 

Fast forward several weeks when I was driving home from the hospital after several long and harrowing days after Michael's surgery.  I was reflecting on this little boy and how brave his little spirit must be inside of a body that was crushed under illness.  The thought occurred to me that he was so Brave, and that would be the perfect name for him in Mirrorland.  "Be brave, little Brave," we say to him.  And he is.

The telethon is wrapping up today.  It was sponsored by the radio station Alice 105.9 in Denver. They have been using the airtime of their station to broadcast beautiful stories of the children here at Children's.  It has been heartening to walk by all the volunteers standing ready to answer the phones - if only they were ringing more.  Most of the time there have been few calls coming in.  I'm certain it must be a reflection on the hard times economically we are all facing.  For those who have asked for the number it is: 1-800-458-kids (I am not asking for donations, but listing it here for those who have asked me).

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  I am so sad my sister, Carrie, has to fly home tomorrow.  She had been amazing help this week.