Happy Heart Day, Sweet Devon!

Today marks the fifth edition of Heart Day. As ever this is one of my most favorite of days, the day when a surgical team spliced together Devon’s dysfunctional aorta so that he would suffer neither an anuerism above the block or fatal organ damage below it. This is the day he got a green light to go ahead and become the wild thing he is today.

This morning I lifted Devon up on to the bathroom counter so he could get a better look at the scar that runs from the mid line of his back, along his scapula to just under his arm pit. As he twisted around to spy it, he sucked in his breath at awe of something stupendous lurking right there behind him, “Wow! That is so cool! I’m cool! My scar is cool!” He then leaped from the counter and went running through the house and hollering about his cool scar. The simple fact that he is here with us to bellow about the beauty of his battle wounds tickles me to the depths of my soul. And I am so grateful to have this crazy boy in our lives.

The following are some of my favorite images of Devon from this fall. The first is from Cassidy’s soccer game last weekend. The field had been cleared of the recent snow, giving Devon a perfect hill to proclaim his kingship of all he saw. The second one is from a few weeks ago when Cassidy lovingly sprayed his hair green and then later left a green ring in the tub, on the towels and in Devon’s ear. The third is from a bike ride Devon and I took a few weeks ago. We had a water break and Devon found this perfect boy sized nook in which to giggle and hide. Fourth is a picture from the above mentioned snow storm of last week. Devon and my mom took turns pelting each other with snowballs and making snow angels. I look at these images and feel all the joy and exuberance of this amazing little boy, and I know I am deeply blessed.