*A Positive*

We had a great weekend! Hayden’s basketball team played in a March Madness tournament, and we were able to go as a family and watch him Friday night. Jace felt well enough to go to baseball practice Saturday morning too, and after watching Hayden’s team take the championship that afternoon (Go Madison!), we went bowling and playing at the Rex. It felt surreal that we were enjoying one activity after another, and Jace still had the stamina to keep going. When he asked Matt to carry him out of the Rex Saturday night though, I hoped he hadn’t over-done it. He said his legs “hurt bad!”

Sunday morning Jace could barely walk, and Monday his CBC showed why. He was extremely anemic again and needed ANOTHER blood transfusion. I was actually shocked at how low his HCT was, because he didn’t show signs of it, other than his legs hurting.

So Monday, Jace spent the better part of the day at the doctor’s office and then the hospital for his blood draw, cross, and type matching. They sent him home with two identification bracelets and told him to keep them on until he received his blood the next day. I had to laugh when we pulled up to Hayden’s baseball practice, and Jace ripped off the bracelets before he got out to play with “the guys.” He said, “I can’t wear these! Don’t take any pictures mom, or the hospital will be mad at me.” A few buddies met him at the practice, and the healing power of being “one of the guys” prevailed. Jace came home from practice with muddy knees from falling so much, and he was worn out, but he didn’t complain. He had the time of his life throwing, catching, and hitting a baseball. No one would have guessed his two hours at the park were sandwiched between two days in the hospital.

The blood transfusion went fine. Jace was so full of energy last night; he tried to wrestle everyone who came to our house! (Thanks Dayton, Dylan, Dawson, Reagan, Carson, Skye, Daisy, Gabby, Krew, Brynlee, Luke, and J’dee for putting up with him!) Jace’s blood type is A Positive, and as I watched the bag drain into his body yesterday, with the giant A on the side, I meditated on what the A might secretly (in Amy world) mean. Lots of words came to mind, but I finally decided that it just stands for itself, and someone out there with *A Positive* blood saved our little boy again…...our amazing *A Positive* Jace.

( Jace loves HOT and SPICY food now. )