For one story, there’s always another 08/06/2010
A columnist is worth nothing if his words do nothing more than reach a reader’s eyes. They have to touch their emotions, make them think — move them enough that when they’re done reading, they don’t just crumble up the paper and toss it aside (or click the computer off and move on to some other task). Not every column will accomplish that mission, and when it does, it’s a good feeling. A newspaper writer’s job is often thankless. When a reader responds, that’s all the thanks you need. So when Janet e-mailed me last week, after reading about the premature birth of my second son, it was a pleasure to read her story. It centered on her two grandsons, Triston and Benjamin, born two and a half months early four years ago. The weighed in at 3 pounds 14 ounces and 3 and 8, respectively. My son had weighed in at slightly over 4 pounds, losing weight as babies typically do, before starting to gain it back. Around his third birthday, Benjamin’s family realized something wasn’t quite right, while his brother seemed fine. It was ultimately determined that Benjamin had aplastic anemia. This rare and serious condition occurs when the body stops producing enough new blood cells. The victim becomes fatigued and is at a greater risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding. It is most common in young children and can necessitate blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant, which is exactly what Benjamin would need. The family was understandably beside itself, especially since the illness typically carries with it a five-month window for recovery. Little Benjamin had gotten sick in May of 2009 and it was already September. Luckily for Benjamin, his brother was found to be a near perfect donor match. The two boys, it turned out, were identical twins and not fraternal, as had initially been determined. Three days before his scheduled transplant, Benjamin came down with a fever. The procedure, being done at Children’s Hospital in Boston, was put on hold. When the rescheduled date came around, Benjamin had yet another infection, meaning another postponement. “We had no more time,” Janet wrote. “Ben’s platelet readings were at between 6-8. They were supposed to be 150 and his red blood was very low. We were told they couldn't give him any more platelets and blood. We knew what would happen without them.” Three days before Christmas, the family received a call from the hospital and was told to bring Benjamin there the very next day. “We scrambled to have [Christmas] for Ben before he left, not knowing what the outcome would be,” Janet wrote. “He was way over the recovery deadline.” The first dose of chemotherapy was administered the day after Christmas. He was given four. Benjamin’s brother was brought to the hospital on Dec. 30. On New Year’s Eve 2009, the procedure was done, giving the family what Janet called “a New Year like no other.” Early last month, Benjamin was given a clean bill of health. Said Janet: “My grandson … is a 100-percent normal 4-year-old, thanks to our hero, Triston, his big brother by 8 minutes.” Life, of course was the biggest gift Benjamin could receive, but he got another. In November, courtesy of the Make A Wish Foundation, he and his family will visit Disney World, where “Ben can marry Daisy Duck and Triston [can marry] Minnie Mouse.” Janet’s e-mail was just one more reminder that for every trial we face, for every ill that befalls us, someone else always has it worse. Still, the proud and grateful grandmother believes nothing happened to her family that couldn’t be overcome. “We are never given more than we can handle, but what we are given helps us grow,” she wrote. She ended her e-mail with a congratulations on the birth of my newest son and with a thanks for sharing my story. No, Janet, thank you. And God bless your two miracles. Walter Bird Jr. may be reached at 508-909-4107 or by e-mail at wbird@stonebridgepress.com. Commentsnorman girard 08/23/2010 12:47
Miss you at your Putnam CT paper editorials, and just wanted to say best of luck on your new ventures and a very very terrifc on your new baby and to mom too. Walter 08/26/2010 21:41
Thanks Norm, that means an awful lot. I hope you'll consider following met on examiner.com. My page: http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-boston/walter-bird-jr 09/15/2010 19:05
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Walter Bird Jr. is a 42-year-old married father of two. He is author of the column The Bird's Nest and can also be followed at http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-boston/walter-bird-jr, where he writes for examiner.com. ArchivesJanuary 2012 Categories |
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