Amazed

I sometimes forget how amazing my son is. I am not talking about the he's-amazing-because-he's-my-son-and-everything-he-does-is-amazing. I'm talking about, wow, he takes my breath away. He just has an amazing way with people and I have forgotten his charm and his charisma and his ability to make every person feel like they are the only one he's interested in.

Today I had to work and I explained to my co-workers that daycare is not open on the weekends and Duc would be working with me. To be honest, the prospect of it freaked me out. I hoped he would be good, or, if he was going to be bad I hoped that people would feel pity on me and I would leave early. No such luck. I didn't leave until 9 pm and Duc was with me the entire time.

I had to work in the ED today. The ED was filled over capacity with patients and we had ED physicians, NPs, PAs, consulting physicians, nurses, techs, EMTs, radiology techs and everybody racing this way and that. As soon as Duc would approach them I would watch their faces change. People he had never met and people who had never met him were suddenly carrying on a conversation with him and time and time again I saw them pick him up and walk around with him. He even approached a physician known for his incredibly unhappy disposition and talked to him. And the doctor talked back. And smiled.

The patients filled the halls because we were so busy. Sick, sick people waiting for beds upstairs or waiting to feel better. Duc would approach them and talk to them. He would laugh and throw his head back as though what they said was the funniest thing he had ever heard. Patients would hear him from their rooms and call for him to come closer. I saw these horribly sick people relax and smile for a few minutes out of their horrible day. They told me about their children or grandchildren or how beautiful and sweet Duc's laugh was.

I've always known he was special. Not because he is my son or because he is adopted. But on days like this I see the beauty of his presence in the world. In my world. In this world that we share with everyone around us--strangers and friends alike. And I am thankful. As one of the patients said, "You are lucky to have each other. God knew exactly what he was doing when he made you a family".

I couldn't agree more.