..."Brackish and Incandescent"...: The Countdown.

It's really here.

Our little man goes back to the hospital in just eight hours. We'll sit and wait for them to come with the final papers to sign; consenting to all the risks of the major surgery.

The anesthesiologist asked me today, all the consent questions, in Chinese, about the length of his surgery...potential heart complications, brain complications, and on and on...

We're supposed to go down to surgery at 7:30 am. It's different here. The patient's family carries/pushes the patient to the surgical elevator, carrying all the medicines/drips/supplies for the patient's surgery, and a box of ibuprofen (to manage the surgical pain!?) We are responsible to carry them into a sort of anti-room just outside of the surgical suite. We will wait there again. Then, a surgical nurse will come and carry him directly into the OR, and I will sit outside, on metal chairs, for 5-6 hours (best case.) Daddy will join me after the other kids are off to school. And at some point and time someone will come out, call out The Charmer's name, and we'll rush into the anti-room again where we must transfer his little body from the surgical bed, onto a gurney and then again transport him up to his room again.

It seems surreal.

We are in the final hours before he gets the surgery we've been dreaming about for nearly three years. Tonight, I feel ready...and yet...I want to stop time and protect him from the hard stuff ahead.

This boy is a fighter. He is a dreamer. He is more than I ever imagined him to be. He so magnificently exceeds everything anyone ever said about his condition, his prognosis, his "potential." I am so grateful that I was given the chance to be his mother.

I am hopeful. I am fearful. Yet, I will choose to believe along with him for the miracle. We. will. see. the lame. walk.

I am tearful. I am conflicted. I am joyous, that he is getting his chance.

Thank you, to each of you that has believed with us. Those who have prayed for us and given financially to us. His chance at surgery and hope for healing is because you have come alongside us.

Pressing on....