I vividly recall when Dylan was born, before we knew anything was wrong, just how stressed I felt. I used to say to folks that "nobody gave me a book on how to be a parent and I'm just doing the best I can", I changed this to "nobody gave me a book on how to raise a chronically ill child", as it became more fitting. As time has passed and with all the up's and down's in this life - one thing has remained constant and that's Dylan's resolve. He has always been a trooper through it all, he has never given up, he has never refused to continue marching forward, and he has remained steadfast on his pursuit of being just another "normal kid".
Dylan over the course of the next month or so will be redoing some testing at Stanford, which may lead to more testing (depending on results). Although its frustrating we didn't get the answers or clarity we were hoping for with the last test a few months back, we're grateful there was not further negative news based on what they could see from those results.
Often its during the most difficult times that we reflect just how much it all means to be offered or lent a helping hand, to get a few words of encouragement, and/or those whom truly show there true colors of who they are. But through that, we're always reminding ourselves that without the doctors who cared for, operated on, and got Dylan to this point - that this yearly anniversary wouldn't be possible. They say "it takes an army to raise a child" but what they don't mention is what it takes to raise a chronically ill child from birth. I know parenting is hard for most everyone, we are no exception to this but raising a child with extra ordinary circumstances - whatever that may be - does take a toll on everyone involved but we feel so fortunate/blessed for the love and support of those whom have gone out of their way for Dylan and us.
A few quotes that seemed very fitting...
"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life, not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."
-Khalil Gibran
"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."
-Edwin Hubbell Chapin
Happy 8 year Transplant Anniversary to Dylan, to us, this date is forever in his honor!
-Noah