To our son on his one year birthday,

If anyone has had a year worth celebrating, it is you. Your dad and I count our lucky stars since we have been blessed by you. You lift our hearts with your smiles and laughter. We love watching your successes, particularly those marked by your proud smiles. You amaze us daily.
But today in particular I wanted you to know we celebrate every aspect about you.
Because we remember.

We celebrate your stubborn personality letting us know our short 1 minute snuggle will have to suffice, or there’s absolutely no way another bite of peas is going in your mouth.
Because we remember several people in the hospital telling us your stubborn personality, uncommon in such a micropreemie, won their hearts. Which led to some great continuity of care and your personal advocates when your father and I did not have the knowledge.

We celebrate hearing your therapists comment how they better have extremely visually enticing objects in order to get you to do what they want.
Because we remember the morning we were told stage 3 ROP and had to decide between reintubation and proven effective laser eye surgery or a series of injections. Later, the opthomalogiat taking a knee after the successful surgery and telling us your ROP was so rare that it had gotten worse within the 6 hours he had seen you. We nearly lost your vision.

We celebrate your crying. Boy do we.
Because we remember still being on the ventilator during month 3 watching you silently scream. Braking our hearts. We put our finger in your hand and told you we understood you were upset. We reassured you, and ourselves, one day you would be strong enough to fill our whole home with your cry.

We celebrate the smeared purées and small pieces of Puffs all over the floor.
Because we remember on your second day of life being told you may never ever feed yourself.


At 1 year old
Your Pulmonologist is amazed with your clear lungs, given your history.
Your Ophthalmologist is surprised how well your eyes are developing, given your history.
Your Neurosurgeon is impressed with your clean MRI scan, given your history.
Your Physiatrist is excited for your symmetrical muscle development, given your history.
Your Gastroenterologist is amazed by your growth, given your history.
Your Early Steps therapist is astounded by your progress, given your history.
Your Occupational Therapist is blown away with your development meeting almost all milestones at your evaluation, given your history.
Your Speech Language Pathologist is blown away that we do not have to work on an oral aversion, given your history.
Your Physical Therapist is thrilled with “all that you do,” given your history.

Every development, big or small, we celebrate.
Your curiosity. Your determination. Your independence. Your content and happy nature.
You bring smiles and proud tears to our eyes.
We love you.