AH>           Yes.  You've done your homework & you have confidence in the   
   AH> doctor. If I understand the situation correctly you have time to be there   
   AH> for your son as well because (by some people's standards) you are   
   AH> underemployed at present. By my standards, the contribution you've been   
   AH> making as the father of this kid is a pearl beyond price.  AFAIC there's   
   AH> no   
   AH> more important work even though you don't get paid in coin of the realm   
   AH> for   
   AH> doing it.  If you truly believe you've made the right decision, that goes   
   AH> a   
   AH> long way.  And as a nurse commented about another four-year-old in a book   
   AH> I   
   AH> read when Nora was about the same age... she didn't understand why she   
   AH> was   
   AH> in hospital, but accepted it because her Mom was with her.  IMHO Bernie   
   AH> Siegel would approve.  At any rate I certainly do.  :-)   
      
   I work full time (and have since I was 18 years old), but I am going to do is   
   take FMLA leave for the operations.  I have almost 6 months worth saved up   
   from working so long where I am currently.  I am going to be off up to 2 1/2   
   weeks to be with our son and make sure everything goes smooth.  My wife   
   doesn't have as much time since she just started a new job.   
      
   We have scheduled the first operation for November 1st.  He will be in the   
   hospital around 3 days after the operation.  The first one is the diversion of   
   the bowel - only.  This is needed to get the "parts below" to go down to a   
   normal size.   
      
   The second one will take place in the May-July time-frame will put things back   
   and fix the issue.     
   AH>    
   AH>           For those who tuned in years after Nora was diagnosed with   
   AH> leukemia, and I hastily packed a hospital suitcase, and I grabbed the   
   AH> library book which was on top of the pile on our window sill, and I   
   AH> finally   
   AH> got around to reading it after memorizing everything you never wanted to   
   AH> know about leukemia because oncology parents must pass a test on this   
   AH> stuff   
   AH> before their kid is discharged   
   AH> ... Bernie Siegel is an oncologist who wondered why some people survive   
   AH> cancer while others don't.  When I read his book I realized I'd been   
   AH> doing   
   AH> exactly as he said (athough others thought I was crazy) & decided to do   
   AH> more   
   AH> of it.  That was how this echo was born.  Her Nibs is still alive & well,   
   AH> thankyou....  ;-)   
      
   That is fantastic!  There is never too much education/knowledge and being   
   there and a part of things every step of the way is important.  I'm really   
   happy to hear your story.   
      
   - Mark   
      
   --- WWIVToss v.1.50    
    * Origin:  http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (1:261/1304.0)