Since birth, Owens medical conditions have had a profound effect on his speech development. For nearly four years Owen and I have mostly communicated non verbally, in sign, or in very basic ‘Owenese.’ Tonight as we were
sitting together on the couch he hugged me, kissed me, and for the first time ever
in perfect ‘Owenese’ he said ‘I love you.’
Oh, my baby boy. I
have loved you from the first moment we met, before I ever saw you, before I
ever knew you, before I ever knew how hard our life together would be. I loved you. I never knew how hard it would shake me to hear those words from you until with your own beautiful voice you finally told me.
For almost four years, together, you and I have been through all the ugly battles this world
has sent our way. Eight surgeries, eight
rounds of drifting off and waking up from anesthesia, feeding tubes, cleft
clinics, endless days of driving and medical appointments, daily medications and injections, and more, and more, and more to come. I have so often wondered if I would ever hear
those words from you. I know, as your
Mom, that those precious words would be hard to come by and would be in your own time. I have been the face of your pain and frustrations, the face
of daily medications and injections, the face of your torment, the last face you see before you drift off for
another surgery, the face that so often is all about business. But tonight- you showed understanding,
you showed me that you know, and tonight you told me. I love you more than this world can hold-
forever and ever, Owen. I love you, too.
