Skip to main content

A birthday poem borrowed for Trevy

Birthday Poem for Cody (borrowed for Trevy)

3 years ago, on this day at 5:30pm, I heard the words...

"you have a healthy, perfect baby boy!"

That's what they told me.

They told me you were healthy - there was nothing to fear.

That's what they told me.

---------------------------------------------

What they didn't tell me....

was that 6 months later my world would topple

they didn't tell me...they didn't know...

that you weren't healthy

They didn't tell me I'd never stop crying

----------------------------------------------

They also didn't tell me...

I'd given birth to a hero

They didn't tell me...

God created a warrior in my womb

That every day of your life you would put on your armor and fight a battle no human should have to fight

and that you'd do it with bravery unlike this world has ever seen

They didn't tell me.

They didn't tell me.

--------------------------------------------------

If I'd have known who I would meet on this day

3 years ago

I would have shrunk from the duty.

Not because I didn't want the pain. Not because I didn't want you.

But because I'd have know how unworthy I was of you.

And still am.

They didn't tell me that you'd raise me - not the other way around.

That all of life's lessons are hidden in your embrace.

3 years old.

Yet you've lived more life, lived more pain, than most would know in a lifetime.

They didn't tell me how much I could love.

How small I could feel.

How your illness has healed me.

Of selfishness, pride, fear.

You - perfect you.

They didn't tell me....

I'd given birth to a minister

who preaches a sermon with his smile

who lives in hospital rooms and in Doctors offices...

yet who still, after hours of having wires glued to your little head and monitors attached to your body...

after being poked, prodded, tied down - unable to move an inch, for the umpteenth time...

that you would manage the sweetest, purest, most innocent smile.

A sermon in your smile.

Oh, Happy Birthday, my darling one!


--- Read more about the author, Shawna Graves, and her son Cody's courageous journey. Thank you, Shawna, for baring your soul and letting me borrow it to bare mine ---

Labels:

Comments

Lisa said…
That was beautiful! Is Trevy's birthday today? If so...happy birthday dear boy!
April 3, 2010 at 5:16 AM
Anonymous said…
Happy Birthday dear Trevy :)

Lovely poem!

kt x
April 3, 2010 at 7:19 AM
Abbe said…
made me get misty-eyed. happy birthday, dear trevy! and hugs to all of you. (ps - i'm LOVING the new blog design!)
April 3, 2010 at 4:35 PM
MJStump said…
the borrowed poem from shawna is so perfect and just says it all. makes me cry...then again, what doesn't :)

happy birthday to you big boy!
April 3, 2010 at 5:33 PM
JSmith5780 said…
Shawna is amazing. Her words are so moving. I miss reading them now that she's not posting.

I am glad Trevy had a great birthday and I hope he is feeling better today.

Love the new picture at the top.
April 5, 2010 at 5:43 AM
Adesta said…
Happy Belated birthday Trevy! So sorry I missed wishing you one on Saturday, but we were busy celebrating three birthdays of our own! April babies are the best aren't they!? *I say that cuz I'm an April birthday and one of those b-days was mine we celebrated! And also my youngest*

Hope all are feeling better.
April 5, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Landon Michael said…
Happy Birthday...a little late! This made me cry, because I feel the exact way for my little guy. Prayers for you all!
April 5, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Colby said…
This was just beautiful....

Thank you for always touching my heart....

Cyndi
April 8, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No, I don’t know him personally

  I’ve had several emails today asking if I know Mike W. of Marissa’s Bunny personally.    Trevy’s blog was linked on her site.  Although it’s not now.     I’ve posted here and there at his request.  Because…well…we’re a community.  Us IS families.  And Marissa is wicked cute.  Her daddy has a way with words.  Also who wouldn’t want the world to know about an iPad give-away?    But aside from that…I know about as much as you do.    We’ve never met in person.    Our only communication has been cyber.    I’m a ginormous sap and as such would love to believe that all is right.  That the sweet, beautiful families who were promised iPads will be getting them tonight.  Tomorrow at the latest.  That no one has been lied to.  That the personal thank you for your generosity email I sent him on behalf of other IS families I’ve grown to love and was thrilled to learn w...
23 comments
Read more

the great answer hunt in the land of Infantile Spasms

If I've said it once... I've thought it a million times more. How it's like the more I research...and discover...about IS. The more blurry everything becomes. For every answer found. A dozen questions are unearthed. Remember our whole ARX saga ? Yeah...that threw me for a loop. So much so...that I never went on to post the end of the story. Thus far... See...the unbelievable in the world of genes happened. Because this is IS-ville after all. After Dr. Genes sampled Trevy's ARX gene on a whim...a whim which revealed an unkown (meaning the first time this specific change was found) mild mutation...she proceeded to send Toby's blood off to mad scientist central. With assurances that this was totally unnecessary . She was convinced that Trevor's ARX mutation was the underlying cause of his Infantile Spasms. And that Typical Toby...would prove to be just that. Typical...at least in all areas mutate-able. And yet...Toby's ARX blood sample revealed THE SAME MIL...
14 comments
Read more

I sure hope...

they grow back curly! Saw the "unknown" flashing on the face of my cell phone and knew who it was. Who it had to be. Dr. Fellow. My eyes met Grams' and I nodded. Grams has a pool, see. For super hot days like today. We're also having a septic installed. Which meant no water or facilities at my place. But those weren't really the reasons I was there. Close to mom. The purple ringing thing in my hand was. Only I wasn't prepared for it to be ringing SO darn soon. Shortly after lunch instead of dinner! I swallowed. Took a deep breath. And clicked connect. Dr. Fellow has a very nice phone tone. Clear. Hint of compassion. If only a stitch of humor were added...it'd be heavenly. But there was no humor. Just business. He's very direct. I'm learning that about him. Which explains his short hello. Followed by immediately pushing into the news. Being that it was a unanimous consensus. The entire surgical committee feels Trevor is a good candidate. And then p...
27 comments
Read more