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One family in Canada knows all too well just how tough it is to watch your baby get sick and be powerless to help him. The Xenarious family just had to endure their 12-week old son going through a heart transplant. Twelve weeks-old. Can you even imagine?
Poor little baby George was suffering from cardiomyopathy, and would've likely died if it weren't for an anonymous family who donated the tiny heart of their baby so that another child like George might live. And as George received his new, healthy heart, his mother could only think about the parents of the family who lost their own child.
And after hearing about these two moms who are now bonded for life even though they will never meet each other, I can't help but think of how much in our lives we take for granted. It certainly puts frivolous holidays like Valentine's Day into perspective, that's for sure.
Earlier this week, I got all disappointed and bent out of shape because my husband and I couldn't get a reservation at our favorite steakhouse in New York City for Valentine's Day dinner tomorrow night. I finally settled for a "consolation" steakhouse (poor me), and I'm sure we'll wind up enjoying a wonderful evening complete with wine, great conversation, and a delicious meal. And our son will be safe at home with his grandparents, not lying in a hospital bed awaiting an organ transplant.
It's so easy to forget about just how amazing and blessed our lives truly are and get caught up in picking out the perfect Valentine's Day card, which will probably wind up in the trash by the end of the week anyway. Stories like baby George's serve as such a great reminder that instead of giving our loved ones flowers, and chocolates, and sappy cards on February 14th, maybe we should instead just enjoy the time that we have with our families and be happy that we have it.
I know that seeing, "I love you, Mommy," scribbled on a piece of construction paper my son tore out of his art book is worth far more to me than anything Hallmark could crank out. And as far as the husband goes, I'll take enjoying each other's company over him buying me a bracelet or some other material gift. Memories last way longer than pieces of bling, anyway, and they are much more satisfying.
As for little George's family, I sure hope that they will be enjoying a wonderful day together tomorrow as a family, and celebrating the fact that their baby is going to be ok. They certainly deserve all the happiness in the world.
What are you doing to celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow?
Image via Jessica.Tam/Flickr
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