Mother's Day 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm dedicating this entry to all mothers, with particular attention to one very special mother, of one very special little boy. A few weeks ago, Garrett asked "mommy" what she wanted for Mother's Day. With her voice cracking, she told him that all she wanted was for him to feel better. She got her wish. Garrett is really feeling good compared to where he was just a short time ago. He’s had several good days in a row now and we’re praying for many more to come.

After spending some days away from the family, I'm finally back in the arms of those who bring me sunshine. Garrett and Jessi curled up with me tonight after playing all evening and getting everything out of the day that they could. Just before he fell asleep, Garrett tucked in close and said he's really praying that his biopsy with score a "zero". With just a couple weeks to go before the procedure, he's starting to worry and wonder. But he's been steadily feeling stronger and looking better, too, and these signs are so important especially in light of the gallop that has returned.

The biopsy will tell us so much more than we can know without it. Sometimes a recipient can be asymptomatic until a rejection is out of control. That's why the frequent check ups now. What we will soon know will be revealed by a standardized 0-5 scale for interpreting the biopsy results from Garrett's transplanted heart tissue. Acute rejection is a common problem after heart transplantation, particularly early after transplantation, but this far out it causes more concern. Most cases are due to cellular rejection but antibody-mediated rejection can happen and is a less well understood, less easily diagnosed and potentially more dangerous. The better he feels, the stronger he gets, the better he can fight any problems that might crop up. For now though, he's feeling great and that's such a positive sign. And it's the perfect Mother's day gift for Kathy. She’s a momma who deserves a beautiful day with her healthy, happy, beautiful children.

I think God made spring just for mothers. He chose a very blessed and special mother to give birth to our Savior, when He could have chosen any method to put Christ among us. God knew that we needed that incredible mother connection to bring His whole Light to bare. That birth was the beginning of our salvation. Jesus' birth made it possible for Him to walk among us and complete the mission that would make everything new again. This event is celebrated every spring with Easter, when the flowers bloom, all the animals bare their young and new life abounds. None of it is possible without mothers. So at a time when we feel better because the winter winds are gone and the warm sun has returned, we celebrate a time for all mothers. They are forever connected with new life.

In Garrett's case, his momma knew before he was born that he was sick. His birthday arrived with a combination of joy, pain and terror. The next 10 years have been filled with challenges and heartache, the fear of the unknown future, and the tremendous joys that only a mother can know. She's had a baby girl who was born 2 1/2 months early and spent the first month of her life in the hospital. She never got to bring a baby home from the hospital the “normal” way, but she’s never felt sorry for herself. She’s always just been so grateful for the incredible gift of giving life that God allows only mothers to know.

Your momma has stayed by your side when you’re sick. She’s kissed your “owies”, rocked you, sang to you, read to you, washed your clothes, tucked you in to bed, cooked for you, comforted you when you had your first broken heart, packed you to countless games, rodeos, parties, parades, school events, church outings and doctor visits. All she’s ever asked is for your love and respect. Oh, she’s asked you to clean your room and help with the dishes once in a while, but she’d have given you her last dime, her last scrap of food and her only jacket. She’d give you her very life, because she loves you that much.

Give her a hug today. She doesn’t need flowers, cards, gifts or a once-a-year house cleaning. Those are nice, but she really just wants your unconditional love, because that’s what she’s given you…..all these years.

Happy Mother’s Day. Every day should be so special.

JD