Tiles and Trials: Why I'm Grateful for My Son's Genetic Disorder

I brought a sweater. It's been a while but it's always cold here, I remember that. I remember the tiles floors too. When I close my eyes and think of this place its the first thing I see. Maybe from how many times we've walked the halls, or maybe its from starring at the floor waiting for the time to pass but I remember the hideous commercial tiles first. We have been for numerous visits at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children but surgery days always feel different. So here we are to do it all over again.

My mother, myself and all three of my sons, were born with a genetic mutation. It has presented itself a little different each time, but each of us have had polydactyly and syndactyly. Basically we have extra fingers and toes, as well as, webbing between some of our digits. Unless you are really looking or know us well you wouldn't even know anything was different. We are lucky.

The first time I ever sat in the waiting room there I quickly went from nervous to grateful. Our condition is annoying and it is expensive and makes finding shoes a real pain in the butt, BUT it is not life threatening. As I glance across the waiting room there are parents sitting next to empty wheel chairs. And not normal wheel chairs but the kinds with head restraints and things to attach oxygen tanks. I hear a woman in pre-op tell the doctor that her child's face is droopy on one side, and that she must have had a seizure in the middle of the night. Her lack of alarm tells me that this is a common place occurrence. As you walk through the halls of the upper floors, there are small, frail, sweet children wearing masks and missing their hair walking by. My problems shrink before my very eyes. It drives me to praying, covering each sweet family with words of life.

I don't know really what is I want you to get from this post. Maybe just to remember that there is always someone with bigger problems than yours. Or maybe its that life is precious and so often we take it for granted. Or maybe that you should spend time praying over these sweet littles and their parents who may not know Hope. Perhaps its all of it together. 

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33