2003 Journal Links

Tomorrow Archie will travel to Charleston, to the city where his father was born. I’m sending my son wrapped tightly in a prayer that Charleston will become the city in which Archie is reborn, born again to a life of health and strength, a life complete with a promise for tomorrow.

My eyes were filled with tears this morning as I rode the hospital elevator to the third floor. I knew this was one of the last times I’d visit Archie in the NICU before he was transferred to Charleston, and that thought was difficult to manage.

Archie’s nurse James was giving the little man a bath when I arrived in his room. The baby was awake and alert, exploring the space around his head with his arms and hands. “Good morning, Archie! Are you getting a bath?” The sound of my voice prompted my son to try to find me with his eyes.

I played with Archie after his bath ended. The baby clutched my pointer fingers in his fists as I moved my hands about. Archie and I interacted until Jill was ready to thread another PICC line into my son’s little body. The PICC that she placed in Archie’s head last weekend was removed because it was leaky. “Be good, little guy,” I commanded as I left the room. “Don’t give Jill a hard time. She’s just trying to help you.” When Jill was finished with the procedure, I thanked her and told her that I was glad she was able to get another line into the baby before his flight. She smiled understandingly.

Throughout the day, several of the staff members and parents of other babies in the NICU whom we’d become well acquainted with over the last 40 days dropped by Archie’s room to offer their support and wish the little guy luck at MUSC. Each conversation brought tears to my eyes. “Be sure to call us when they set a surgery date for good ole’ Archie,” Dawn asked. I promised to keep everyone updated on Archie’s progress. It was obvious to me how attached everyone has become to my little man.

I ran into Dr. Newell on my way out the door this afternoon. “Can I ask you when they’re taking Archie to Charleston?” he inquired.

“Tomorrow morning.” I answered as Dr. Newell took my hand. “Scary stuff,” I added, tears filling my eyes.

“Everything’s going to be fine,” Dr. Newell offered. “He’s going to be ok.”

I nodded in response, my bottom lip quivering.

“If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know,” he said. “We look forward to seeing you and Archie back here soon.”

I rode the elevator down to the first floor with a hospital employee. “You have a baby in the NICU?” she asked.

“Yes,” I answered, smiling.

“How big?” Since the majority of babies in the NICU are micro preemies, it is easy to forget that some babies are admitted due to other problems.

“Oh, he was big when he was born,” I told her. Touching the center of my chest, I offered, “He has a heart defect. We’re going to Charleston this week to get it fixed.”

She nodded in response. “I’ll be praying for him.”

As I walked to my car, I realized that our little man would receive many, many prayers if only a quarter of the people who said they’d pray for Archie actually do. I hope everyone whose life he’s touched will hold him close to their hearts and remember him in their prayers.

As I walked to my car, I also wished that all of Archie’s doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists could go with us to Charleston and take care of our little man there. I will always hold each and every one of them close to my heart and remember them in my prayers.