JT’s numbers are good. The new feeding tube is a 100% improvement and Jodi and I have started to give medicine through it. So far, no worries. He donned the green N-95 mask and ventured out into the hallway again today for a stroll. All cause for great celebration.
Aunt Bec spent Christmas Eve in Room 21 and by all accounts, it was a festive one. JT unwrapped some gifts and with a “Here you go, Daddy!” he handed me a super-cool handmade gift he’d crafted and wrapped with Bec’s help. Meanwhile, after I got home Jodi and Justice and I had an opportunity to hang out around the Christmas tree together in the apartment. It’s been nice. I’m back in Room 21 now for the night shift, thinking about JT’s enthusiasm for the holidays.
When Jodi arrived this morning, JT yelled, “Merry Christmas Eve!” The boy is excited. I, however, was less than excited when I asked him what Christmas means and he replied “Santa and presents!” He’s only three – how did we get so far from Jesus’ birthday in such a short time? I can’t blame it all on The Polar Express. So while he settled in for a long winter’s nap I jumped on the Internet to dig up some dirt on Santa Claus.
An hour later, I’m convinced that St. Nicholas is perhaps the greatest guy who ever lived. To summarize what I found: Nicholas was a bishop in the early church who as a young man gave away a huge inheritance to minister to the poor, especially children. He liked to give secretly to remain anonymous. For instance, there was a poor man in Nicholas’ town who had three daughters. Since the father had no money, these girls faced a bleak future – spinsterhood or much worse. So Nicholas sneaked into their house (through an open window or through the chimney depending on the version) and left a bag of gold in each of their stockings which were, as usual in those times, hung by the fireplace to dry. With these miraculous dowries in hand, the girls were now eligible brides-to-be. This act of kindness prompted the whole stocking tradition we observe to this day. Who knew? Anyway, what a guy. He spent time in prison for his refusal to back down when Christians were being persecuted by the Roman Empire. After his release, he made a name for himself by standing up for the falsely accused. In fact, he was such a great guy that the church still celebrates this patron saint of children with the Feast of St. Nicholas on…
December 6, Jacob Treebeard’s bone marrow transplant day, the day when JT got a second chance at his childhood. So. I’ve had to adjust my thinking. While I may be disheartened by all the commercial nonsense American advertising has added to this honorable history, count me a newly minted fan of Old Saint Nick, patron saint of children. You can bet we’ll be raising a glass to him every time December 6 rolls around in our home.
Well, only minutes to go until Christmas Day. Jodi is coming in the morning so that we can celebrate together with Jacob in Room 21. We’ll have gifts for him, but they almost seem silly in the light of his new immune system – talk about a gift! Between the gift of kingdom life that the Christ child brought at Christmas and the gift of earthly life that the donor gave our son recently, it seems like too much goodness to process at once. But it’s good to be overwhelmed with thanksgiving, especially tonight as I close with JT’s words, “Merry Christmas Eve!”