I had to leave my boy again. It was such an amazing and uplifting moment for me to see him again. For a two and a half year old baby boy to have to process what was going on. I can’t imagine what was going through his head. Nevertheless, I had to say goodbye again after the short visit and was off to my parents house to quarantine, recuperate, eat and rest.
I had actually only lived in our families new home in Fort Washington for about two months after we moved in. A new job after graduating college afforded me the ability to move out and into my own place at that time, about ten years prior to now. I wasnt sure how long I would be staying there but it was a welcome respite after two months in the hospital. I unpacked and made myself comfortable in my new bedroom then went to the bathroom to take a really, really long shower. It felt wonderful. Afterwards, I settled in, called Lor and Nick to say goodnight and tried to go to sleep in my new digs.
About nine am the next morning, the 21st, my mom woke me to tell me that Lori was on the phone. “My water broke. I’m on the way to the hospital”, she said. No freakin way! Is this really happening! I barely had the strength to get out of bed. This was a miracle though and there was no way that I was going to miss it. I struggled to get dressed. Time was of the essence. We were using the same doctor that delivered Nick three years before at Frankford/Aria hospital in Northeast Philadelphia. It was about 45 minutes away and Lor and her dad were already on the way. I made it to the car and we were on our way. My mind was racing. Did this kid really know that I had just gotten out of the hospital the afternoon before? Did he realize how immunosuppressed and weak I was? Did he know the exact day that I would be available to be there to welcome him into the world? Pretty amazing I thought. Step on it Dad. We have to get to the hospital!
The hospital provided a wheelchair when we pulled up and we made our way to the delivery room where Lor was already in labor. The nurses at the front desk were apparently very happy to see me. The nurse asked me who I was there for and I told them that it was for Lori, that I was the father. Bursts of laughter broke out! They said “Thank God!” and proceeded to take me into the back where my father in law was dressed in a mask and gown. He looked so relieved to see me! Apparently, when they got to the hospital, Lori was rushed into the delivery room and when the nurse asked Nonno who he was, he said “The Father!”. He was so nervous, the nurses thought that HE was the Father! Nonno was off the hook. Dressed in a mask and gown… they wheeled me into the birthing room. I looked like I should have been in the cancer ward but here I was. I made it. Lor made it too. 56 days of hell and on number 57 here we were ready to welcome the son that I thought I may not ever meet. Yes, it was a miracle.
Unlike Nick who tortured us for 28 hours, this kid shot out like a rocket. Two and a half hours, he came out so fast that the doctor almost dropped him! There he was though. A beautiful baby boy. It was overwhelming for me. I just cried. My wife was amazing. He came two weeks early so she hadn’t even had a second to breathe. I was so proud of her. And Nick. He would be a big brother now. So many changes, so fast. Again, this is what I was fighting for. This is why Leukemia would not win this time.
We found out later that when Lori’s sister, brother in law and brother got the call in New York they left so quickly that they forgot to pick up Lor’s Mom and had to go back and get her! It was a glorious day. We were so blessed. I got to be there. His name you know…his name is Joseph.
Next Up: So Much to Take In.