A Different Kind of Celebration...

Thursday, October 21, 2010, 7:00 pm

We all have one every year.  In my family they occur around major holidays.  It wasn’t intentional.  It’s just the way it happened.  Nicholas’ is on St. Patrick’s Day, Emily’s is five days before Christmas, Paul’s is a few days before Halloween, mine is on Christmas Eve and Christopher’s is today.  Ten days before Halloween… on the six-month anniversary of his accident on April 21^st.  That’s right… today my walking, talking miracle is fourteen years old.  And we’re celebrating like we never have before!  Oh, we always celebrate birthdays.  Emily hangs the “Happy Birthday” banner from the family room fireplace, we make a special dinner and dessert, friends and relatives call to send birthday wishes, and cards and gifts are opened. 

But this year, this birthday is different.  We’re not just celebrating Christopher’s birth fourteen years ago, nor are we simply celebrating that he’s another year older.  No, this year we’re rejoicing in the fact that Christopher is actually here with us.  He is alive and thriving.  This boy who wasn’t supposed to live through the night on April 21^st is with us today, full of life, full of energy, full of love.

My heart is heavy today, but it’s a different kind of heavy than I was feeling six months ago.  I will be forever grateful for the amazing medical care he received from paramedics, doctors and nurses.  When I think of the thousands of people who prayed for him and for our family, I am overwhelmed.  Yes, today my heart is heavy with gratitude, with love for my child and with unbelievable joy.  I will hug him today, I’ll tell him how very much I love him and I will remind him, once again how thankful I am that he is here for us to celebrate.  Happy Birthday, Christopher!