Where You Start Growing Grit

My wife and I were exhausted.

Our 3rd child Zacchaeus had been born 48 hours earlier. After developing breathing complications, he was transferred to a larger hospital in 30 minutes from our home.

Soon after arriving, doctor told us that Zacchaeus’ outlook was grim and not to leave the hospital. It was so intense that we were given a free room just down the hall from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

In the doctor’s words, “Super critical. We are maxed out on what we can do for him. Do not leave the hospital.”

My in-laws were on their way to town from the Washington D.C. area. My mom, already at our home watching our other two kids.

Breanne and I’s phones were flooded with texts wanting to know the latest.

With an overwhelmed look in her eyes, she pleaded “Whatever you need to do, just get a Facebook page up, we need a way to let family and friends know. I can’t keep writing the same text 20 different times.”

In that moment, I thought it would be just a centralized place for day-to-day updates.

It has become so much more.

A place of processing and reflection in real time.

A place of prayers for the bad days.

A place of gratitude for the good.

I cannot imagine getting through 10 months of the NICU, numerous surgeries and 5 years of life with an artificial airway without it.

If you’re in a difficult season and are overwhelmed, write.

Write to start healing.

So that healing can lead to learning.

And learning can lead to growing.

Growing grit.

All the best,

Kris

Follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

P.S. Zacchaeus is doing great these days. If you’d like to follow his journey, you can do so here. Lastly, If you know of someone who needs this today, forward it on to them.