WAITING...

"Serene I fold my hands and wait, Nor care for wind, nor tide, nor sea. I rave no more 'gainst time or fate, For Lo! my own shall come to me." An excerpt from the poem "Waiting" by American poet, John Burroughs. How I waited. How I prayed. As Burroughs inferred in his poem, nothing mattered. Fear filled my heart; fear for my son. It is not the first time that my husband and I waited. Remember, when you have children, they are hostages to fortune.

What matter other accomplishments? All that I cared about in waiting was a good resolution from his surgery. Weeks of waiting, then surgery, then waiting for the surgeon with family.

The waiting was insufferable; but worse was the potential answer. It is as if a probable answer would kill my heart. So waiting at moments seemed preferable. Slowly the surgeon MGH's Dr. Lunetti explained all the operation's complications. Finally, and for the first time, he smiled. The answer was good. Joey is in recovery, his wife is in recovery, his children are in recovery, his siblings are in recovery, and Joe and I think we'll make it again.

K. B. Pellegrino, Author