A ‘graduation’ photo prompts reflection on a family’s Alagille journey
A child's educational milestone means the world to this dad
Written by |
I’ve found myself reflecting a lot recently as my two boys close their current chapters in life and head into new ones. Part of what prompted that reflection was a recent school photo of my youngest son, Finley, who was born with Alagille syndrome.
Finley “graduates” from pre-K, making his dad proud. (Courtesy of Jay Sandstrom)
In a few days, Finley will be “graduating” from his pre-K class. Unfortunately for him, that doesn’t mean he’s done with daycare. He’ll continue attending the same class throughout the summer, and he’s having a bit of a hard time coming to grips with the fact that his older brother, Jackson, who is in second grade, is at the end of his school year. But even though he’s bummed that he isn’t finished yet like his older brother, he’s still excited for his next chapter, kindergarten.
Each spring, the daycare center has a photo day, and Finley’s photos are always great. He may be small in stature due to his liver disease, but he’s not small in personality, and that shines through in his photos. So I had no doubt that this new set of photos would be great. What I didn’t know was that the staff had a surprise lined up for us pre-K families.
When we received the photos, one showed Finley in the new shirt he’d helped to pick out. In another, he wore a child-sized cap and gown and a giant smile. It was amazing to see and brought a huge smile to my face. I was immediately transported back to when he was admitted to our local children’s hospital just over a month into his life.
Finley at 2 months old, around the time that he was diagnosed with Alagille syndrome. (Photo by Jay Sandstrom)
I remembered the eight-day hospital stay, and asking one of the doctors, “Will he be able to go to school?” I honestly didn’t know how they would respond, as this was before he was diagnosed, and his health wasn’t in a good place. The doctors did their best to comfort me by saying that many children with conditions like Finley’s go on to do great things. But, as a parent, you still never know what will happen in situations like these.
Today, five years into his life, sometimes I need to look back at old pictures to be reminded of just how far he has come. Even though he was in newborn diapers for way longer than I want to think about, he’s in a great spot now. He is smart, determined, strong-willed, creative, and in stable health.
I’m thankful for the daycare staff and this surprise. I’m not sure if they know why it’s so special to me. I’ll always appreciate having this photo of Finley in a cap and gown. And now I’ll be looking forward to the moment I can put it next to a photo of him graduating from high school in the class of 2039!
Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.