INSPIRASUNS

Wow, it’s hard to believe…eighteen years ago God blessed our family with a very special little boy, our grandson Austin. I was fortunate to be there when he was born. He was a premie, so we didn’t get to see him long before they whisked him from the room. I just remember the doctor holding him up for us to see and telling us he was a little boy, and not long after they took him to the NICU unit.

The following morning I was at work, having planned to visit my daughter and new little grandson at lunch that day. My phone rang not long after I got into my office and it was my daughter, she was crying saying she didn’t understand. I asked her what happened and what was wrong, fearing something had happened to Austin. She said that a nurse had come in that morning and had laid a book on the table by her bed and said that one of the pediatricians who had evaluated Austin during the night wanted her to have the book. The title of the book was, “What’s Wrong with Timmy”, written by Maria Shriver. When Heidi asked why the doctor wanted her to have the book, the nurse simply said, “Oh, he has Down Syndrome”, and then left the room. There was no discussion, no sitting down with my daughter to explain, and no time for her to ask questions, just brought a book and a matter-of-fact delivery. I won’t go into my total disappointment in how that was handled, that is for another day. Anyway, that is how the first 12 hours of my grandson’s life went.

The next few days were spent just trying to absorb the news and come to grips with what would be different about raising a special needs child. There was a point when my daughter felt guilty, wondering if she should have had other tests, if was there something she could have done differently during her pregnancy. We put those feelings to bed and she came to understand this was not anyone’s fault, and we also realized how truly special this little boy Austin was.

Little did we know that this was only the beginning of a very rough few years. You see within a few days the doctors noticed something wrong, Austin was not having bowel movements. It was a very special NICU doctor who, after one set of tests thought that he may have Hirschsprung’s disease. This disease affects the colon, specifically missing nerve cells. Without these cells, the muscles don’t detect the contents and everything backs up basically. Well, this doctor knew that Austin needed to be moved to a hospital where he could be treated. Within hours he was airlifted to a children’s hospital almost two hours away.

We made it to the hospital shortly before he was to go into emergency surgery. I will never forget the words of that surgeon when he came to see us and explain the procedure and what needed to take place. They were to remove a very large portion of the large intestine. He made it clear after answering our questions, “I need you to understand, it’s very possible he will not live through this surgery. He’s a very sick little boy”. As the tears flowed, so did the prayers. Father how could this be happening to our little Austin.

Well, God was with the doctors and Austin, and he did make it through that surgery, and many others after. This little guy was in and out of hospitals for much of the first few years of his life. We have been very, very blessed. Through it all, he has been strong and a fighter, and though he will always have this disease and need regular check-ups, he is a healthy “kid”.

Austin brings joy and laughter to everyone who knows him. He’s fun-loving, impish, (knowing exactly which buttons to push with his sister), and he has all the girls at his high school wrapped around his little finger. He has a big heart and there isn’t anyone he can’t win over with his wonderful personality.

So today, Austin, we wish you the happiest of birthdays. Today I thank Father for the gift of YOU. He blessed us eighteen years ago and has continued to bless us with incredible healing and strength. You are a special boy, you are incredibly loved and will always be our “little man”. Love you Austin to the moon and back, have an awesome day!

Watch over thy child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he fall; and in his heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.