From Beyond the Skies by Juli Boit

Author:Juli Boit [Juli Boit]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Published: 2022-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

13

A New Beginning

Day 0. A team of doctors came to round in the morning like they always do. Only this time, I had two children for them to review. It was transplant day, a day we had hoped and prayed for with great anticipation.

Mel drove Titus down to be part of the many activities of this landmark day. Mama Micah lovingly remained with Geoffrey, quietly orchestrating all the moving parts, helping to ensure none of the important balls dropped along the way.

When it was time for Sharon to go to the OR, I handed Ryan over to Senge—shortly after he had vomited down my back. I climbed in bed with Sharon, and we waited together in the cold hallway of the second floor, surrounded by Dr. Moore and other doctors.

They marveled at the story that was unfolding—two brothers from Kenya who needed a transplant and a sister who was a willing match. Sharon played Candy Crush on the hospital’s iPad, another welcome distraction, as the doctors and I conversed about how we got here.

Before they wheeled Sharon away, I signed one last consent form on behalf of a child who I didn’t give birth to but whom I had grown to love.

In the last month, I had done this exercise three times, this “letting go” of Ryan. Now, it was my turn with Sharon. Once again, I felt the deep emotion, the responsibility of having another child go into an OR.

I hugged her as tears filled our eyes. “I will be waiting for you,” I said. Her bed was wheeled away, and I was left alone to walk through the white maze of hallways. I found my way back to the elevator that took me to Ryan.

***

A decorative sign adorned a bucket outside of his room. It read: Happy birthday, Ryan. In a few hours—because of his sister’s sacrifice—in many ways, Ryan would be reborn. I told his nurse Marielle, “I hope today goes better than his original birthday.”

On April 3, 2016, Ryan had taken his first breath as his mama prepared to take her last. By a miracle of God, this premature baby survived his first days in the world. On this his second birthday—as they called it—I prayed for new life.

I sat and waited with my friend Kathy while Ryan was asleep in his bed beside us. We talked of the wonder of all that was occurring. It was like how Walter Brueggemann describes, “I am celebrating the impossible that is right before my eyes, even though I can’t explain any of it.”17

Without a trace of regret, I wondered how we got here. How did these beautiful little people become mine? How did their pain, joy, and healing become part of my story? How did this happen, really?

I don’t pretend to know how heaven works, but I liked the idea of it including a mama and baba watching their little ones with the same sense of love and awe with which I found myself filled on that day at UCLA.

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