Because Diego is awesome!

Tuesday was kind of an emotional day at Jacob's school. Jacob started at this school (daycare) at 15 months old (he's 3-1/2) now) when I went back to work part-time. He attends twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays. One of the little boys who started at about the same time is named Diego. It was obvious right away on that Diego wasn't well. He was very small, not walking yet, being fed via feeding tube and the whites of his eyes were yellow. Diego was born with a diseased liver. Despite the challenges Diego faced every day, this little boy became the heart and soul of this group of little people. Over the past couple of years we have watched Diego learn to walk, start to speak, laugh and, most excitingly, begin to eat without the aid of the feeding tube. With cautious optimism some of the other parents and I speculated that the treatment that Diego's parents had chosen for him must be working. Unfortunately we found out a few months ago that, in actuality, the treatment wasn't working and he needed a liver transplant. On Monday, Diego and his family are flying to another city for that transplant. Last Tuesday was his last day at school and the teachers threw a party! Those parents that were able to, attended and the kids painted a picture for him of their hand prints. His teachers, and in particular, his care worker, made touching speeches and a few tears were shed.

On the Monday before the party I asked Jacob if anything special was going on at school the next day. He told me that there was going to be a party. When I asked him who the party was for he told me it was for Diego. When I asked him if he knew why they were having a party for Diego, this little boy of mine paused, thought for a minute and then said, "Because Diego is awesome."

Our thoughts and prayers are with Diego and his family! We hope to see them again soon.

Edited - Unfortunately, just one week after Diego left, he was back in school. The family flew to Toronto and when the donor was operated on it was determined, for a reason that I don't understand, that the liver was not a good match and the surgery would be too risky for Diego. We were thrilled to see him in school, but heartbroken that he still needs a transplant.