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October 2, 2002 Feast of the Guardian Angels Dear Rebecca, On Monday, your mom & I learned some shocking news about your health. Of course, you don't have any conception of it, which is a blessing to not be worried; you can continue practicing to suckle and doing calisthenics, "leaping for joy" as the Scriptures put it. But you are a sick baby. The technical term is duodenal atresia, but what it really means is that you won't be able to eat. It's when we have a problem like this that a person can be glad to live in these times, because the doctors at Childrens' Hospital feel that they will be able to take care of this problem with a very high likelihood. A child born with this problem in past times would have died. We are very anxious for you, of course, but we are hopeful after talking with the doctors that this problem will be solved. Both your mom and I have done a lot of reading since Monday to find out about this problem, as well as the condition known as Downs syndrome, which mom's doctor thinks you may have. Yesterday we told your brother and sisters about the problem, and they were sad that you wouldn't be coming home right away and that you might be a whole month old before they see you, but Althea was happy when she realized you might be coming home right around Thanksgiving, and said "That would be the best Thanksgiving gift we could receive!". The day we found out that you were going to need surgery, I went to afternoon Mass at Greymoor, and the reading was the beginning of the book of Job. Job was a just man who was persecuted by Satan to tempt him to curse God. His possessions, wealth and children were all harmed, but he stayed faithful. At the time I felt your mom and I were in the same position. But while we do need to stay faithful, I saw that thinking that way might seem to someone that I felt that you were now an affliction. I don't think that. I know that your mom and I may very well have some difficult days ahead, and so will you, but you will not be an affliction for us, anymore than your brother or sister's problems or misbehavior over the years makes them an affliction. You will be loved as we have loved them. Right now we are just very concerned for you. Love, Dad |
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