time to reflect....

All caught up in the return of my son from his first year in college and his first college baseball season, came the news of a cyst that was found on my sons spine....

It seems that my son was aware of the cyst and for the most part not bothered by it, and of course, did not want to take time off college baseball to deal with it.....He did not tell us about it....until it had grown....what started as a pea size......grew to a nickel size and began to exert pressure on the nerves in his back.....

By the time we had it examined and confirmed it had grown to the size of a golfball and had become extremely painful.....surgery was scheduled for yesterday.......not life threatening mind you, but as they remind you.... in writing.....and signed in multiple copies....that any time you go under general anesthesia........well things could happen....bad things...

We arrived at the same day surgery center early yesterday morning....mom, dad and girlfriend in tow......and went through all the preliminary motions.....all went well and smooth until the time when the nurse tells you to say your good byes......

I went to him and hugged him, I kissed his forehead, I told him I loved him and that I would see him on the other side of this.......

His mom held up well, his girlfriend not as well...and we retreated to the waiting room to sweat the hours away.....

The whole reason for this post is to relate what I did in those hours.........and what I hope you will do.........under better circumstances......

I reflected on the short 19 years Ive been blessed to have this boy....I remembered each and every year, the joys of his life, his friends, his accomplishments, his ups and downs..........his shortcomings.......mainly his not telling his coach or trainer or even his parents about this health issue........until it had gotten too painful to deal with alone.....

I prayed.....for him, for me, and for his doctors, nurses and staff

I walked the halls....

I prayed.....mainly for forgiveness for praying only when I need it most........

The doctor came in and notified us that everything had gone well, and no lingering effects should occur........and the recovery period will be weeks and painful......

We got him home last night......now encamped in the living room as he will either be lying on his sides or stomach or standing for the next week......within an hour our house was full of teammates, pizza and movies......

My Prayers were answered....

Now.....strip away all the issues.....college, baseball, scholarships, playing time, all of it........and what it all comes down to is your child.....

I have my child......and he will recover.......everything else is of little importance today........