Prayers for a 12-Year-Old Boy
I don’t know if I just made a terrible gaffe or offered up my love at just the right time.
I just got off a call with my friend K, whose 12-year-old son is having surgery on his spinal column right now. She is presently in the waiting room at the hospital, surrounded by friends and family members. I called to tell her I was thinking of her and E, and their family, and wishing her son the best in his surgery, not knowing exactly when it would take place. The surgery is being done to prevent his spine from suffering a fatal or paralyzing injury. He was born with a bone defect called Klippel-Feil Syndrome that has left the nerve column completely exposed and without protection, and susceptible to a constant banging in the cervical area for his whole life. They have elected to have the surgery to immobilize his neck and hopefully spare his life from accidental injury or death. Hopefully this will also eliminate pain and the migraine headaches he experiences. As I understand it, he will have a metal "cage" around his head and neck for several months after the surgery.
Last week, in preparation for the surgery, E was forced to cut off his long, long golden hair. His two best friends did the same in solidarity. Somehow, that small gesture of love and support among sixth graders has touched my soul. I cried and cried when I heard that.
Such a difficult and scary thing to go through!
Dear Universe, I offer up my prayers and love to K and E and their family and I will keep a candle burning today to hold them all safe, to pray for the correction of the problem, to honor the skill and care of his surgeons and medical team, and to give them all strength and courage.
Blessed be.
EDIT: 5:15 p.m. Well, I was trying to protect Elias’s identity, but it looks like that isn’t really an issue. His parents, Jon and Kelly, have set up a website to update everyone on his progress. Surgery went well! And he won’t have to wear the halo contraption, just a neck brace. It sounds like Elias will be OK!! What a relief!
November 17, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I’m happy to hear things went well for them! I can’t imagine what those poor parents have gone through