Joy in this Journey

 What is it like to be a medical mama? It's a lot of work. It's a lot of research, questioning, pushing the envelope,  and a lot of fighting for what your baby needs.  There are a lot of hospital stays and much  fear you'll have to face, but God will give you the courage to overcome.  You'll have some PTSD, and dread the hospital stays that you'll have to do alone without your other half (because mom and dad work best as a team), but you will have the courage and faith to do it.  You will persevere because you simply just have to, and there is no other way.  There's no such thing as giving up.  By the time you've done multiple hospital visits, you will be a pro at this. Pretty soon your friends will start asking for your opinion on things and you are glad to help them navigate these waters when they have to face some medical crisis of their own.  I have told my friends that if they ever find themselves on their death bed, to have their husbands call me, I will come to that hospital and fight for them! Joey continues to teach me daily about joy and to appreciate every beautiful moment that we often take for granted in this life. He has taught me to fight my heart out for the things that need to be fought for. He is a constant reminder to me of what a warrior he is. When I get scared about having labs drawn or some procedure that may be a little uncomfortable for myself (I've had a lot of blood drawn from pregnancy and I do not look forward to labor and delivery in a few months), I think about the many pricks and IVs he has endured, the open heart surgery he has overcome that gave him life, and I tell myself if my little boy can do this, so can I.  He continues to live a full life because of the gift God has given him, but his beauty and joy for life has continued to shape me into who I am today.  Even with all the tears and fears, there is still so much joy in the journey, and it's so evident in this sweet boy's smile.