Pure Determination!

I remember a day back in July 2008, when I stood in the courtyard of the Jinan Social Welfare Institute. In a baby sling, clutching my shirt with tight little fists was a tiny, scared little boy whose constant pitiful sobs I could barely hear over the foreign chatter between my Chinese guide and the guard at the front gate. Jacob had been mine for three days, yet I had not seen him smile, heard him speak a word, or give any sign that he was happy to be alive. I feared that I had totally bitten off more than I could chew and was terrified that a visit to his former home could take an already bad situation to a horrible next level. Still, I followed the group across the courtyard, glancing up at the building only to see every window on the top floor filled with children fighting to get a glimpse of the Americans who had just chosen one of their playmates to be whisked off to the United States.

I made my way through the front doors, onto the elevator, and up to the unit that a little boy, once known as Fu An Ka, had called home for most of his young life. Once off the elevator, we were surrounded by dozens of beautiful Chinese children under the age of 12 that begged us to take their pictures in hopes that we would have friends that would want to "take them home to America". As my heart was breaking for them, I was suddenly distracted by the way in which my scared little bundle became very attentive. Still clinging to my shirt, he allowed the children and nannies to talk to him and kiss his cheeks. He shared a few cookies with his former roommates, who had not yet found their forever families. His once fearful expression became one of determination, which at the time I was very puzzled by. It wasn't until we walked out the front door of the orphanage, Jacob still in my arms, that his look of determination became one of relief. Then relief changed before my eyes into sheer joy...and the smile that appeared across his face in those moments became a trademark of his. It's a smile that I have enjoyed every day since that amazing moment...a smile that, though tucked away for the past few days, came back in full force today!


Since my last post, it feels like a miracle has happened. We met with the surgical team today to go over Jacob's progress. During that meeting, Jacob sat quietly listening to all of the chatter around him as he got poked and prodded by numerous doctors and nurses. At the very end, one of the doctors looked at him and asked him if he had any questions. Jacob thought for a moment and then said, "I want to go home." The doctor's response..."Well, if you can do three things for me, I will let you go home: eat some food without throwing up, go peepee on the potty, and go for a walk." Jacob's response was a simple, "Ok, I will." The doctor looked amused and said that they had a deal. I pulled him aside and asked him if he was serious and he said that he was, but didn't see how Jacob could pull that all off in one day. He told me to expect to go home possibly Sunday.

Jacob had other plans...

After a lunch of two pieces of toast, apple juice, and strawberry ice cream, he took a walk around the unit to pick out some new movies to watch this evening. We are still waiting for that "peepee on the potty", but since they've shut off his IV fluids, he may simply just not have to go yet. I expect that we will cross that bridge sometime tonight! After each milestone has been met, he's been sure to tell me to have the nurse tell the doctor that he did it. He even got quite silly this afternoon while I climbed into bed with him to watch a movie.

Take THAT brain surgery!!!!

My parents are headed up tonight, so he should be even more motivated to get out of here! Hoping that my next post is a discharge one!!!