Finally.....

Ahhh. Stefanie is asleep. Jack is finally resting peacefully due to the fact that he has been given a lot of really good drugs!! (lucky little bugger!) I want to thank our good friend, Christy Claeys, for her ability to make Stefanie and I feel comfortable in a difficult place. She is a rockstar and we appreciate her very much! Thank you Christy!

Jack was a little grumpy yesterday until he received his meds. He would cry for 2 minutes and then would calm down for 30 seconds. Cry for 2 mins and calm down for 30 seconds. He repeated this process for hours. Around 6pm last evening he was able to take an additional round of meds that helped with the pain, nausea, anxiety and swelling as well as IV fluids and a 3rd blood transfusion. All of that seemed to help all of us to get some much needed rest.

Yesterday was an amazing day in the PICU. For the time I have been here I feel I have seen a lot of things that have brought a tear to my eye and made me reflect on my own life.

~A quilt in the hallway that has a picture of a newborn with a caption that says, "A moment in our life. A lifetime in our hearts. 4/16/03 - 4/17/03". - 1 day? That is all this world got to see of this beautiful baby? 1 day? It isn't right.

~A small girl who could not contain her innocent emotions being consoled by an older woman and being told, "everything will be ok, it will be alright." as she continued to sob uncontrollably.

~The families that I regularly trade glances with, knowing that they were here before me and they will be here after I leave. The look in their eyes, the unheard conversations in the hallway, their patience and persistence have forever burned an image into my mind.

~The child in the next room, screaming in agony for hours now as 2-4 doctors and nurses tend to him at all times. My heart goes out to him and his family.

~The dedication of my wife as she has rarely left our son's side. Loving and comforting him as often as humanly possible. I am envious of her strength.

~Seeing the grief torn families of passed souls. Unfathomable emotions.

This experience has taught me a lot about my family, my life, the love a parent has for a child and unfortunately there is always someone somewhere is dealing with a more difficult and challenging situation than ours.

I had to get some of this off my chest before I exploded, so thanks for reading.

We are now in 2Henson Room 2411 or 2611. Either way when you enter the Hospital you will pass through security and find the Castle Elevators, then travel up to the 2nd floor, exit to your right (I know it says Burn Unit, but we are not in that area, just the same tower), push the little black button on the wall and the nurses will open the door, you must check in with the nurses and they will direct you to our room. Please feel free to visit and remember your ID and Children's Mercy says no kids 18 and under.

Cory & Stefanie