Day Five: Movin' On, Movin' Up!

I wanted to start today out with a beautiful poem my mother wrote for us. She e-mailed it to me the day before Bridger's surgery. It's been so hard for her not to be here during this difficult time, and as she was thinking about this and praying in the temple these words came to her:

THE HEART OF AN ANGEL

Your heart is beating softly

As you slumber on my breast,

My angel child, who came to earth

Not needing any test

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Your heart, as small as a robin's egg

Came needing some repair,

So Bridger, all who love you

Now join in fasting and prayer.

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How I pray for those skilled hands

That I must trust you to,

That this little heart may be made whole

Before this day is through.

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I'm grateful for another healer

Who all broken hearts can heal,

Through the gift of His Atonement -

I know that power is real

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I long for the day I can teach you

In ways that you'll understand

About Heavenly Father who loves you

And the Savior, who holds your hand.

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In my mind I see your valiant spirit,

And in my mother's heart I know,

That all our hearts will grow in love

As we bask in your celestial glow.

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For you are love in its purest form

Fresh from its purest source

And, as your parents, we thrill to know

That you will stay the course.

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You'll never break a commandment,

You'll never break our hearts,

And every day we'll learn from you,

How to do our part.

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How honored we feel, that the Father

Would entrust you to our care.

There's so much that you will teach us,

In the days we'll have to share.

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So slumber on my little one

Sweet peace has calmed my fear,

Your tiny heart will beat strong and true

Next time I hold you near.

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She captured so beautifully the feelings I felt and made me tear up as I read it. First, because it was so touching and second, because I was so proud of my technologically-challenged mom for actually figuring out how to send an e-mail! We are excited to see her and my dad on Friday.

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10:45 a.m.

Todd's Update: Okay, things are going REALLY well. We're just waiting for word from the Cardiac Unit that they have a bed and nurse for Bridger. He is guzzling the breast milk that we have been freezing for him. His GI system is back in operation, filling diapers left and right. His leg IVs are gone. His right arm IV is gone. His central jugular artery line is gone (procedure caught in picture). His chest tube is gone. His bandage is gone. Pretty soon the PICU staff will be saying, "Bridger is gone!" Yay! Then we can begin to bug the next nurses and doctors about how soon he can go home.

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Oh yeah. I just met David Cook, 2008 American Idol winner.

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He and Chiefs tight end, Tony Gonzales, were holding a spontaneous press event this morning for the kids in the hospital. So of course, Bridger asked me to attend in his stead. Everything was all laughs and high-fives. But when I confessed to David that we had been rooting for both Davids (Archuleta and Cook) during the competition last Spring, I could sense the tension between us. Fortunately, when he learned that our family is from both Utah and Blue Springs, he cut me some slack. The tension disappeared. This obstacle in our friendship seemed to have brought us closer together. We're on good terms again. He's cool with it. Everything's good. We're in a good place. Back to BFFs.

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Each of them signed the legs of a Tony Gonzales doll for Bridger. He seems to like it. Jana is going to be quite upset when she discovers she missed this event. I haven't called her yet. I don't think I will. :-)

1:15 p.m.

He's outa the PICU! Bridger's new address in the cardiac unit is Floor 4, Room 14, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO. His next address will be Home. Isn't that a beautiful word? Home!

The doctor said Bridger's discharge could be as early as TOMORROW, but likely in a couple days. Let's see, 'a couple' usually means two. Two plus 22 is... the 24th! Things are lookin' good. Here's Bridger in his new digs. Still looks and smells like a hospital. Fortunately, though, there is a private bathroom and sleeping accommodations right in his room, so Mom or Dad can stay close. Besides the fabulous health care, however, I would say the next best benefit of CMH is the free high-speed wireless Internet access. Wouldn't you?!