A Mother's Heart

France 1999, T. and his little brother D. 

We decorated the tree today.  We are about 5 or 6 days ahead of schedule but this year, we have the time.

V. and I took our time, 1.5 hours to get the job done, probably because I sobbed for about 10 minutes.  Missing my boy in Florida more than I can say.  He's been gone 9 years this month...

Nine years ago my brave boy could not find himself here, at home.  He had to go.  He chose the road less travelled, he was only 22 years old. A foolish girl had told him he could never be what he wanted to be.  It both broke his heart and spurred him on.  So he left just after Christmas, laden with luggage, he flew first to New Jersey then to St. Martin then, he took a ferry to another island where he would study medicine for 16 months.

Only 22 years old, white as milk and a little green behind the ears, he landed on an island where he was known as 'white boy'.  You see T. can't tan, he only burns.

Fortunately, he ran into a man from Chicago and they quickly found a place to stay and moved in together.  Andre was older and wiser but he must have sensed that T. was an ok guy. At least that's what he told us months later when we were Skyping with T.: "Your son was a very good man and he is working very hard on this studies.

T. distinguished himself throughout his years and years of study on the island and later in Chicago and now, no doubt in Florida.  He had to leave the island after 16 months to pursue the practical part of his medical degree in Chicago.  Later, he would match at Mount Sinai in Chicago and graduate as an Internist.

Most people would have been happy to begin working and start chipping away at the mountain of debt but our brave boy wanted more.  That is why he is pursuing a fellowship in Florida, in the middle of the Covid pandemic.   His field: Pulmonology and Critical Care. His lovely wife told me yesterday that he is working 100+ hours/week...

So today, as I was hanging some of his ornaments on the tree, I cried for my boy, the 22-year-old who left home 9 years ago this month and for the 31-year-old working in Intensive Care with Covid patients.  

My boy is far away and he is in the middle of all that is most difficult about this pandemic.

Say a little prayer for him.