This was the moment that I learned just how much love could hurt. I never felt such emotions in all my life. I was filled with extreme joy that my son was finally here and came out crying… a sign that he was alive after an emergency C-Section at just 30 weeks. At the same time, I was struck with an intense urge to protect and nurture him, something I wasn’t able to do like every other mother. This photo was just an instant, the exact instant that he was shown to me and then whisked away. Although he was born, it felt like he wasn’t quite mine yet. I had to give him up to the NICU for him to be saved… for me to be saved, because I don’t know how I would have gone on if we would have lost him.

Although my role in his little life increased as the days went on and he got bigger and stronger, I relinquished much of his care to those who knew best, the very heroes who played a major part in him still being here today, his doctors and nurses.

Every year at this time I get extremely emotional, ecstatic to be celebrating another year of his precious life, but also heavy with all the memories of a very difficult period. Although I didn’t intend to plan another birthday party this year, I couldn’t resist. I have stared his mortality in the face and know how much we have to celebrate.

But this year, we asked our family and friends to do something extra special for his birthday. We requested that they forego the traditional gifts and instead donate to our family’s annual fundraiser for the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in our son’s honor. Last year was the first time we participated in the Miami Children’s Health Foundation 5K (benefiting Nicklaus Children’s Hospital), raising over $12,000 including corporate matching with our team Santi’s Superheroes and Friends. This year we have set a goal of $20,000. It’s so important for us to give back to the hospital that saw us through the darkest days of our lives.

From the first day that I arrived there with him by helicopter, transferred from the hospital where he was born, I felt a sense of relief. The attention of the medical staff to our son and our family was phenomenal. In spite of a constant battle to save lives and many inevitable losses, they continue with the highest level of care and attention to each and every family that comes their way. Many of the resources afforded to families at the hospital are funded by the generous donations of people just like you.

Our hope is to be able to continue to support the growth and improvement of this facility, that our son will continue to need throughout his childhood, by our annual participation in the MCHF 5K. We hope that you will help us to honor his life and all the medical heroes that saved it, by joining our team if you can or donating. Donations are accepted from everywhere in the world, and this hospital treats children from 80 different countries! With its proximity to Latin America and the Caribbean, many patients from this region walk through their doors and then go home with their families to enjoy the lives they were meant to.

Please join our team or donate anything you can here (every little bit counts):

http://support.mchf.org/goto/Santismom

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