Winter, Spring, SUMMER and Fall

We met Summer on March 25, 2002. No, not the season because at the time it was Spring, we met Summer the little baby girl, that would for the next 60 or so days be Will's NICU buddy. Summer had started her fight for life just a few days before Will began his. I met Summer's mother the previous year in the Fall of 2001. You see, she and I both wanted the same thing......a baby. That quest had taken us both to a fertility specialist. When you are going through the process of IVF there are certain times when several days in a row you must go to the Dr's office for blood draws, ultra sounds, etc. Summer's mother and I were on the same cycle, so we would see each other frequently. Nothing more than waiting room chit chat and where we were along our quest was ever shared. Until late October of that year we both sat in the waiting room, awaiting the big news. Had all the weeks of our hard work paid off? We were called back one right after another and in just over an hour we were both back out front making our next appointments. I think we were both scared to ask one another is we were pregnant for fear that one of us might not be. But on the elevator down to the parking garage she revealed to me she was pregnant and then I told her I was too! We cried, hugged and wished each other the best. And then went our separate ways, never thinking our paths would cross again. Then came Spring 2002, which I mentioned earlier. Summer and Will both came early to this world. I don't remember exactly how early she was but it was at least 10 weeks, Will was 13 weeks early. They were both given pretty much the same dim prognosis: 5-10% chance of even making it, brain bleeds, cerebral palsy and blindness were all sure to surface. Well the weeks started to pass and they both were getting stronger and gaining weight. And eventually could both breathe on their own. After about week 4 Will was doing nothing but improving and ALL conditions mentioned earlier were NON-EXISTENT. GOD IS SO GOOD. Summer's progression was good, but some days not so good. But towards the end of May, they were taking a seemingly healthy Summer home. We hated to see such a sweet neighbor to go, but we were happy for them. And once again we said goodbye and best wishes. Winter 2003, I remember walking down the aisle, although I don't remember which store it was, and thinking that looks like Summer's mom. And sure enough it was. At this point we had 20 month olds, Will had only been walking about two months and was eager to show it off. Summer's mom conveyed to me that Summer hadn't yet walked but they were hopeful. I encouraged her and said that Will had only been walking about two months. So then again it was so long. Now to Spring 2008, in fact it was yesterday. I had taken Jillian to her appointment so that doctor could have one more look before her laser treatment today. And who would be coming into the building, Summer and her mother AND her two year old brother. Summer was in a wheel chair. The last part of this post I am not sure how to say. Summer has yet to have taken a step, she is wheel chair bound and by the looks of her thick glasses, has some vision trouble. OH MY HEART FELT LIKE IT MIGHT STOP RIGHT THERE IN THAT HALLWAY! All that could run through my mind was, THAT SHOULD BE WILL, they were given the same prognosis. And then I looked into Summer's moms eyes and I saw the tiredness and worry. The lines on her face looked like she hadn't stop worrying since those first dark days in the NICU. Why did I write this post, I have no idea. I just couldn't get seeing that 6 year old girl in a wheel chair out of my mind. I feel like Summer's mom is someone I am supposed to maybe be running into periodically. Because it just seems so random when I see her. But I doubt it is random to God, I think that running into her lets me see how BLESSED Will is with his health. Okay here is the hard question I ask. Why Summer and not Will. I know God doesn't love Will more than Summer. I guess maybe we are all just given different things in life to deal with.