August 21, 2006

I still remember this day–as though it was yesterday.  It was heart-wrenching.  It was both happy and sad.  We go to meet our son for the first time–but by looking at his frail, lithe, sick little body, we weren’t sure he’d be coming home with it.  Shortly after this picture was taken, we rode with him and many other children to see a doctor–who sadly was gone for the rest of the day.  We then drove to another doctor.  After that visit, we were taken back to Wanna and then we had to take Noah back to the hospital.  I remember walking down the hall with him and being so scared that we were leaving him there.  A hospital in a developing nation is a hard place to leave your child.  I knew his nanny would be with him and would watch him all night, but it was so hard.  He stayed in the hospital the next day–we didn’t get to see him as we had to go to immigration and take care of other logistics.  The next day Bill and I got to see him and visit another doctor and then Bill and I refused to take him back to the hospital.  We just couldn’t.  We knew that if we took him with us and loved him and gave him everything we could, that he would be okay.  It was a risk we had to take.

August 21, 2012

Today we (as were in 2006) are so pleased we took that risk.  He has grown and blossomed into an incredible kid, person, friend, brother and son.  He started first grade–I can’t believe it.  I hate to be cliche–but time goes so fast.  His spirit is amazing and to watch his personality develop continues to be amazing.  Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is also the most rewarding.

This morning is the early morning hours, Noah and I sat on the couch.  I held him close in my lap and kissed his head and told him that 6 years ago, half-way around the world, I got to hold him just like this for the first time.  We talked about how he was sick and why we celebrate Noah day on August 23rd and not August 21.  We decided in Ethiopia we would celebrate the day that we became his parents–the day we stuck out necks out and took a risk for our son.  The day we were his advocate.  That is the day that made us a family.  That is the day we celebrate.  We talked about how he was lucky to be at Wanna being cared for, because if he hadn’t been–he probably would not have survived.  We talked about how not having access to clean water is really sad and that getting medicine isn’t easy.  He thinks its sad that they can’t just go to Target and get the medicine they need.  I assured him that I think it’s sad too.  Every child, every parent should have access to the simplest things in life and water is one of them. Medicine is another.

I hope these are lessons that my children carry with them and I hope it informs the adults they grow into and influences their actions.