The Transport of an Angel | These events took place the same day of his birth.

 

Transporting Little Sebastian to the Hospital that would perform the heart surgery

Running from filling out his transport papers, I arrived in the last seconds to the Ambulance, as they closed the back door and were ready to leave Hospital Metropolitano. I asked them if I could sit in the back with him, they popped open the hatch, I jumped in and off we sped.

We raced down the streets with sirens screaming, cars honking in thick congested traffic. It was surreal as I watched the red lights of the ambulance paint abstract reflective patterns on the incubator where Little Sebastian laid. He was so peaceful, as if nestled comfortably in the hands of the Lord.

We arrived at the hospital, which was to perform the heart surgery. As Sebastian was rushed to ICU, I filled out his paperwork the best I could in my broken Spanish. Since Alicia had just had a C-section she had to stay at Metropolitano overnight, so was not able to be with him this night.

I checked him in, and soon after, my father in law Ernesto arrived. Ernesto was to play an important part in little Sebastian’s life over the next few days. Ernesto and I had decided back in the other Hospital, that Alicia’s mother and mine would stay with Alicia in Metropolitano to support her, and Ernesto and I would team up to council together in order to decided on crucial decisions for Little Sebastian’s life.

We decided to convince the hospital to give us a room, so we could set up “Base Camp”, for the immediate family, and facilitate Alicia, who would be coming the next morning. She would still in quite a bit of pain from her surgery and stress does not help with her recovery.  

Nervousness and worry was constantly trying to creep it’s way into my mind, like fly’s to a picnic, I fought them off best I could. Tears were like honey, which stuck to mine mind as I struggled to keep positive. Prayer was the natural weapon, as we knew we had to keep strong in order to make  proper rational decisions for little Sebastian’s life.

I read the verse in my bible “ He gives power to the weary and to him that hath no might he increases their strength” I asked God to give little Sebastian the strength he needed to go through a surgery that would be hard for an adult, and he was only one day old.

The doctors met us that evening and were so concerned about our little boy. They discussed in detail about every aspect of the surgery. Since Little Sebastian had Tetra of Fallot, there were several things wrong with his heart, so he would have to go through several surgeries in order to live a healthy strong life. This immediate surgery however, had the highest mortality rate out of the surgeries he would have to undertake, as he would be only 1 day old during the surgery. The crucial nature of the surgery is to increase blood flow in the pulmonary artery, which increases oxygenation levels in his tiny little body.

One of the amazing things the doctors mentioned is that aside from his heart, Sebastian was a good-sized baby, with good weight and was very health; in other words he was strong, which put him in good shape for the procedure.

It was also during this meeting that I learned my little son had to have a full invasive operation, where the chest cavity would be opened from the sternum (Center of the ribcage) in order for the doctors to get good access to his tiny little heart.  Tears streamed from my eyes as my mind immediately juxtapositions his perfect soft little body with such a dramatic operation. I prayed non stop and related a few of the facts to other members of the family. Prayer instantly started from members of the family and fiends around the world. I visited little Sebastian several times as I watched his cute little clam face and touched his soft brown hair.

The family was separated, Alicia, was going through the agonizing worry of a new mother and my heart went out to her even though I could not be with her that night.

I wrote this poem to calm my aching heart:

My sweet little son, 
my loved one


Eyes laid hold, 
never to let go.


I loved you when first I saw,

Your little face from afar.



Struggle you are as you cling to this life,

Married I am to your strife.



I feel your struggle deep in my heart,

If it would help, with my heart I would part.



I want you to know with every breath you take,
 you are mine 
In my heart only love you will find.


I think of you now,
your little body so strong.

Rest easy tonight,

Together tomorrow, we’ll take flight.

The night closed over the roller-coaster day, the following morning would be one of the most dramatic days of little Sebastian’s and our lives….surgery

Little Sebastian the night before his surgery

Thanks for reading, tomorrow I will write the next part of this story which transpired over the last several days. Once the blog gets up to date, I will write daily updates.

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