Visiting Bird

My sweet nephew Bird spent a short stint at Children’s Healthcare at Scottish Rite last week having an exploratory surgery and being examined by an assorted lot of specialists.  He weighed in at only three and a half pounds at birth and, since he still hasn’t “caught up” at age two, he needed to have this done to rule out the possibility that there could be some underlying issue that is causing him to stay so small.

So Cookie and I boot-scooted back to Atlanta with buckets full of treats to bring a little cousin-cheer to Bird, Sister and her Mister.  Being just a visitor in the hospital, I was overwhelmed with the fact that every single detail had been thought of to help make it a pleasant place for the littles.  We played basketball, hunted koi, tooled around on the mini-golf course, attended an art party, snacked, played and belly laughed until we were flat out of energy.  Cookie and Bird are truly the best of friends…two peas (albeit one quite big and one teeny tiny) in a pod…and I’d venture to say that our little visit was just as big of a treat for Cookie as it was for Bird!

Yet, as impressively fun and colorfully cheerful as Children’s is, I just couldn’t squash the innately devastating fact that the immense building is filled to the brim with littles in pain, hurting, sick or needing some sort of exam or procedure like my nephew.  And while I pasted a smile on my face and channeled my former cheerleader peppiness throughout our visit, inside I wanted to burst into tears every time we walked past a room with a tiny little crib or child sized bed.  My heart hurts for not just Bird and his family, but for every one of those kids and their families.  Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.  And hug your own a little tighter tonight.  I will be.

xoxo

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5 thoughts on “Visiting Bird

  1. So many prayers being said for your little nephew and sister and BIL. I've been reading your blog for a while and discovered we have a friend in common. The writer of Charmed Life and I were in the N. Fulton Junior League a few years ago. My family moved from ATL in 2005. Please accept my sincere thoughts and prayers once again.

  2. Thanks Jackie! Yes!!! We were sorority sisters. She was Sisters year and they are still the best of friends. I'm anxiously awaiting the announcement of her baby boy – should be coming TODAY if he isn't here already!!

  3. I guessed she was having the baby, since there are no blog updates. :) We had lost touch…I discovered your blog through a link party. And now am mildly addicted considering I want to absorb as much as the south as possible. We currently live in Ohio. Clicked on your sister's blog…clicked on Charmed Life!! And there she was!! I emailed her and we caught up. She is so sweet and so creative!! Another friend follows your blog too…Sues…she knows the obsession I have. :) I feel like I am reading a southern novel everyday! :)

  4. I hope your nephew is ok :) It was so sweet that you got to go spend the day at the hospital. My neice was in the Iowa children's hopsital last fall (she wasn't gaining weight after birth) and I spent the night with her in the hospital. I was so impressed by all of the activities, games, etc for the kids. It also made me realize how lucky I was to have two healthy kids. I love reading your blog!

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