Adoption is Brave

This is part of a multi-blog series called “Adoption Is” for National Adoption Month 2019. Read the entire series.

I wrote the following story about six years ago on an older version of our blog. It exemplifies the bravery that children who experience adoption possess. I can’t imagine anything scarier than moving to live with a new family. I can’t imagine being a few weeks in with the new family and something like this happen.

This little guy is a not-so-little guy now. He’s fighting very hard to steer his own his story, his experiences and craft his own future.

He’s undergoing a lot at the moment, but he’s a fighter — has been his entire life. I hope one day he’ll look back on this blog or even reflecting on his own walk and see the many dozens of people cheering him on each and every step of the way.

If you think about it, take a moment and write a note of encouragement to T in the comments below. We’re not seeing him every day at the moment, but when the time is right, I’ll share your words with him. He is a visible reminder of one of the best characteristics of this whole ordeal. Adoption is brave.

…

The first words outta his mouth at school this morning, “I was bwave!” Yes, yes, little guy was bwave. Very brave. He had his first ER visit last night, and not while no ER visit is fun.. this one really wasn’t.

We had a freak incident at the grocery store. Actually, my wife did. She picked up a bottle of household cleaner, which unbeknowst to her, was unscrewed. Crash, splash, scream. Cleaner all in little guy’s eyes, throat and covering everyone. Mom got it down the throat as well. Thankfully, it was organic.

A short eyewash in the store and a call to dad to get the boys. Thankfully, we live close. I called poison control while my wife worked on the store report. We needed 12 minutes of continuous flushing.

After we got home, we tried. Two different ways, it wasn’t happening. Little Guy was having no part of it.. I can’t blame him. His eyes hurt, but “not so so much.” So, off to the ER we go. Again, thankfully close… in sight of the grocery store even.

Not too long later, mom comes in and we wait. By now Little Guy is enthralled that the sounds from Dora on the TV come out of the remote control on the bed. Even better, was that he answers her questions like he’s talking into a walkie talkie. Unfortunately, that was the best part.

Everything looked ok, but just to make sure, he got an eye stain to check for abrasions by the chemicals. Then the flushing. I won’t go into the details, but it was the most unpleasant experience as a parent. I told a good friend that it was a real object lesson into how it must feel for the Father to watch us go through trials that are painful, knowing it has to happen for our good. Humbling.

Today, he’s good. Except for the eye drops he’s getting multiple times a day for a few days. But he was bwave, very bwave.