Monday, September 12, 2011

Happy Birthday, Son!

Our first-born son entered the world 15 years ago tonight. It's hard to imagine our lives without his sweet smile, his quick wit and his kind heart. His first few weeks in this world were not easy; he was born with a seizure disorder and had to be rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit after he stopped breathing. More than once while he was in my arms his very first day.


We couldn't send him to day care because he needed someone to watch him one-on-one. So we hired an older woman who had raised six children of her own and we had her trained in CPR. I would come home from my newspaper job at lunch time to nurse him. He weaned off his phenobarbital at 18 months.

Such a scary start to our family life. We prayed and prayed that he would be healthy and whole. And he is. He has grown to be a wonderful young man. He cooks beautiful meals. He plays the upright bass. He's a bike mechanic and a new cyclocross racer.  He's a trusty-worthy friend, a loyal brother and a good son.

His birthday is inexorably linked to the day before - the day before he turned five and almost lost his daddy. The experience gave him an early understanding of what tragedy is. It's also given him a soulful heart. 

We look forward to witnessing the blessings God has in store for our teenaged blessing. Happy birthday, Gabriel John!











10 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to your son! This story of his life was so nice to read. May his day be filled with every gift and heavenly blessing!!
    oh, and that baby pic is precious! He is a handsome man too.

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  2. Thanks, Sarah. He is even more handsome in real life (said his mommy!)

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  3. What a lovely tribute to your son! Happy Birthday to him, and many more!

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  4. what a sweet tribute, mama! Happy Birthday!!

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  5. Wow, what frightning times for you as his mother! Was he your first baby? So wonderful to read about a happy ending to such a scary beginning - Happy Birthday!

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  6. duh...you said firstborn in the first line...obviously my recent sleep deprivation is kicking in nicely.

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  7. Gabriel was not our first baby. We lost one before birth. This is why I referred to G. as our "firstborn son."

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  8. Aww...your comment above, the beautiful piece for you son. My heart is warm, may the blessings continue!

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  9. So glad you all made it through the rough start. It sounds like you are raising a well-rounded young man.

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  10. My son turned 6 today and I am sure I will be 15 in a blink of an eye.....thanks for sharing:)

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