Just wonderful

Hey darling.  Yesterday we had an appointment at Sick Kids' Hospital with Dr Chitiyat.  Apparently he is one of the top genetics guys in the world.  Anyway, he was your genetics doc when you were born and he wanted to see you again.  He hadn't seen you since you were a baby and his predictions for you then were pretty grim.  When he came out to the waiting room to call your name, he looked pretty surprised.  He kept shaking his head in wonder as you walked into his office.  First he managed to say "she can walk".  After preliminary greetings he got into asking all sorts of questions about what you can do.  First he wanted to know about eating.  "Is she fed with a feeding tube?"  Nope.  Can she use a fork and spoon?  Yes.  And then you added "and I'm learning chopsticks".  He shook his head in amazement and said "she's wonderful".  We went through all sorts of gross motor tests (which of course you could do most of the stuff- walk, run, jump, walk backwards, go upstairs, go downstairs, stand on one foot, hop, walk toe to heel) and fine motor tests.  He constantly was shaking his head and saying "she's wonderful".  He wondered if you combine words now.  How many words can you say in a sentance.  And then he asked you if you like your baby brother.  You started to laugh and said "Zoe isn't a brother.  She's a girl and that's a sister."  Somewhere around there he got tears in his eyes.  He honestly never expected you to make so much progress.  He leaned over and said "Ekko do you know you are wonderful".  You said "yes".  And then he added, Ekko, do know you are beautiful?"  You said "yes, my daddy tells me every day."

Halfway through the appointment he dragged in a couple of other people.  One was a student and one was a genetics counsellor.  He had had them study your chart before they came in.  They were blown away too.  The one said "we so rarely get to discharge a patient."  They were all so excited with you.  They added "and we've never discharged a child that was as sick at birth as Ekko was".  I think our appointment went on rather long because they enjoyed playing with you and Zoe so much.  The doctor started swinging you both around his office.  (you impressed him when you asked him where his stethescope was).  I have never seen him so relaxed and playful.  At one point he took you out to the waiting room and got you to pass out a sheet of stickers to each of the children waiting.  Then he gave you about five sheets to bring home.  As we were leaving, he said "just because you are discharged from us now doesn't mean you don't have to come back."  He told mommy that next time I want to go shopping at the Eaton's Center I could leave you and Zoe with him for a couple of hours.  He enjoyed you so much.  He was still saying "she's wonderful" as we left the office.  We spent nearly two hours with him and you seemed to enjoy it too.

I never want you to forget how wonderful you are my love.  Nor do I want you to forget how much of a miracle you are.  -We love you!