A mother's prayers, answered
By Stacy Lindsay
Our son, Chris, was born in the fall of 2003. Since my pregnancy and labor were normal, and this was our fourth child, we thought we were old pros at this baby stuff — just wrap him up and take him home. But not this time. The nurse called in another nurse while she slowly moved the stethoscope across Chris’s chest with a strange look on her face. This is where the prayers start; before you’re even conscious of the words, they just start flowing through you.
The doctor said they had to take Chris to the nursery where they could better examine him. The team felt he was in no imminent danger, but that is a long way from perfect. Over the next three days we learned that our baby had both heart and lung defects, and was being tested for neurological problems.
On the fourth day, instead of taking Chris home for the first time, we handed him to Gary, a nurse from Children’s Memorial Hospital, who had come to transport our baby by ambulance since our local hospital did not have a neonatal unit that could properly diagnose and care for him. Gary was my first contact with the Children’s Memorial family and the warmth and caring that they wrap around their patients and families. He thoughtfully took a photo of Chris, placed it in my hands, and told me he would be with my son until we arrived at the hospital. He then gave me a huge hug. I’ve since found that there are more hugs per square foot at this hospital than anywhere I’ve ever been.
I’ve seen doctors, renowned specialists in their field, pick up my fussing baby and rock him to sleep, so that they can gently administer a needed test or treatment.
Chris spent much of his first year of life in ambulances heading back to Children’s Memorial. He was rarely home for more than a week or two before we were back again, sometimes in the intensive care unit. Chris’s heart had a hole that needed repair, and his single lung just couldn’t keep up with the everyday viruses that surround us. Through all his stays and treatments, we always felt so supported by the entire hospital staff, from the parking valets [thanks for warming up my van], to the maintenance staff [words of encouragement], as well as the cafeteria staff [making me special chicken sandwiches late at night], and the nurses, who not only tend to their patients’ medical needs, but also may sing a lullaby to soothe a crying child. I’ve seen doctors, renowned specialists in their field, pick up my fussing baby and rock him to sleep, so that they can gently administer a needed test or treatment.
Through it all, I didn’t always know if Chris would be alright, but I knew he was getting the best care possible. He will continue to be cared for by his family here at this hospital as he grows. We thank God every day that we have access to this level of care simply by luck of geography. What if he had been born somewhere else? Chris just turned 6 years old and is doing amazingly well, enjoying kindergarten. To look at him, you would never guess what he has been through or how many people have played a part in keeping him healthy. He looks like your average happy little boy. From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who has been there for us. And so does Chris, for every night in his prayers, he asks God to bless everyone at “his hospital.”
This article first appeared in the Winter 2009 issue of Heroes magazine. To hear more families tell their stories, visit the multimedia section of our site. To meet more inspiring patients, get the latest news on upcoming events, and more, subscribe to Heroes Update.