Heart Surgery

I stare at you lying there

And my heart squeezes painfully

Tubes bursting through your flesh

Bright red with blood

Your small eyes glued shut

I search for any flicker of movement

As I stroke your head

And whisper soft words

It is heart breaking to see you like this

Not moving

Hooked up to so many tubes and wires

I would rather shut my eyes and not look

I hate seeing the glue on your body

Where your skin got sliced open

I hate seeing the proof of your pain

Lying before me

I just want to lift you

And cuddle you close

And let soft tears fall on your cheeks

I love you so

I’m so sorry you’ve been through this

I’m so sorry your heart wasn’t whole

Yet here you live on before us

A little boy with boundless courage

Sweet and gentle

Holding on while your health stood still

Heart failure and pneumonia

Fluid on the lungs

Oxygen taps and bandages and wraps

Yet you carried on

You haven’t lost your zest

Stilled and quiet, yes

But in time I know

Your eyes will open and show

That this journey was worth it

Every tear and moment of pain

Is but a puzzle in a bigger frame

And new journeys now open before you

Life has been restored to you

With a heart newly repaired and whole

You have taught us so much

Little boy lying silently there

You are a treasure we didn’t expect

We would give anything to take your pain away

But it is through your surgery pain

That your heart now beats properly again

We would give anything we can to you

Right now all I have is words

Of how much we love and admire you

Our little heart warrior son.