Mother's Day

Here is a picture of Kendall touching our baby Charlie. Two nights ago, at three in the morning, we got a call from the NICU that Charlie needed emergency surgery. He had a perforation in his small intestines. It took over an hour just to unhook him from everything and move him downstairs. Although it was major surgery and the problem very serious, I was mostly worried that just the act of moving him and performing ANY kind of surgery would be fatal. But he survived, thank God. They came and told us at 7 am and he was soon back in his incubator. They cut away the part that had a hole but could not reattach the intestines at this time. So the ends of them are currently outside of his body. If all goes well, they will perform another surgery when he’s stronger, in about two months, and put everything back where it belongs.

The surgery adds a host of new risks to his already critical condition. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. On top of all that is the increased concern about his existing brain bleeds and what that would mean if he survives. I don’t even want to go into that right now or dwell on any other scary news because I want him to live more than anything, anything in the world. I love him so much. I’m trying to be very positive but it’s all scary as shit. That said, we had a nice Mother’s Day. This photo of Charlie holding Kendall’s finger was taken earlier tonight. He definitely recognizes her whenever she’s there even though his eyes are now covered up again following the surgery.

In addition to Mother’s Day, today would have been my mother’s 75th birthday, a confluence that occurs every seven years. For the past five years I’ve written a birthday post for her called “The Judy Miller Show” but I’ll have to resume that tradition next year. Not that I wasn’t thinking of her all day because I was, but after almost 12 hours at Cedars-Sinai, I am ready to collapse even before I down the Ambien I’ve been taking all week. I’ve never used a sleep aid before but I need it right now. If I have to book a Room With a View at Betty Ford’s by fall, so be it. Above is a photo of my mother from 1954. She’s a new mom, sitting on the grass at Chicago’s Lincoln Park with her baby, my brother Bruce, and her little brother, my Uncle Paul. My mother was 14 years older than Paul, the same age difference that exists between Leah and her new brothers.

The tears for Oliver started flowing on my way to the hospital this morning, but other events of the day sent them back into hiding. I feel sad and heavy even though the days are not without bright and even humorous moments. The good news is that these events have left me feeling beaten up but very open, able to give and receive love in ways that used to be nearly impossible for me. Whatever happens, I am grateful to be the dad of Leah, Charles, and Oliver Miller, and I send my most loving Mother’s Day wishes to my wife Kendall, to Leah’s mom, Sophie, and to my mother, Judy Miller. 

Comments

[Nat]

Danny,

You and your family will continue to be in my prayers. I'm so sorry that you have to go through all this and wish for a speedy recovery for your son.

[Adriana Bliss]

Oh my...you and yours are most definitely in my thoughts and prayers, Danny.

[Helena]

We are praying amd send all our love.

[Pam G]

Thanks for the additional update. You all remain in my thoughts.

[Heather Moss]

Thinking of your family all the time, Danny. Keep growing, baby Charlie. You can do it, little guy.

[Fiona]

Hoping and wishing the very best for you and your family. Thinking of you all the time.

[Jeff]

We're keeping you, Kendall and Charlie in our thoughts. Make sure to take care of yourself when the get the chance and go Charlie, be strong!

[Shari]

Thank you for this beautiful post, and for the update, which touched me on so many levels. The tears are flowing. I'm sending my love to all of you. The photographs are wonderful and Charlie will be so amazed when he sees them and hears the story of how his life was saved.

[Judy]

How beautiful these photos are. May G-d give you both the strength to deal with everything you need to face. May my continuing prayers help. I send you heaps of white light of healing to all of you to keep all of you strong and healthy.

[Pearl]

I hope your mother is looking down on you all, putting in a good word on your family's behalf to the head honcho up there to keep you all safe and on the mend.

Sending you many brachot/blessings...

[Wanda]

We're still here with you, Danny. Healing prayers are up for you all.

[churlita]

I'm so glad he made it through the surgery. That photo of Kendall's hands on him, made me tear up. It's so beautiful and poignant. Charlie has the best parents around.Happy Mother's day to Kendall.

[Cynthia Reich]

Oh Danny,

I thought about Kendall all day yesterday. Her first Mother's Day as a mother! I'm crying again. Give her and Betsey my love and have some chicken soup. It always helps. Caroline (English friend) sends her love.

Let me know when I can meet you at the hospital.

Love to all,

Cynthia

[Marilyn Molnar]

Dear Danny,

The picture of your Charlie holding Kendall's hand was so moving .... my thoughts and prayers are with you all and my hope is that there will be many happier Mothers Days to come with your son getting stronger every day.

Love to you all.
Marilyn Molnar

[suzanne]

Stay strong. Stay strong. Stay strong.
Still praying and sending the best thoughts to you and your family.
Thank you for taking the time to update. It means a lot to friends you haven't met, like me who care and wish you all the best.

[Sarah]

I've just caught up on your news from Spencer's blog. As I commented to Spencer, you are all so obviously a very tight knit family and I am sure that is a comfort to you all at this time. Go Charlie! Kia Kaha.

[Maura]

Oh Danny . . . Thoughts and prayers and love to Charlie, you, Kendall, Leah, and Oliver. Just trust that what's supposed to happen is going to happen---and that your mother is watching out for all of you.

[Jennifer]

danny: the tears are running down my face after viewing these very touching photos. you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers each day.

[Anne]

Keeping all of you in my prayers this night!

[josephine]

happy blessed mother's day, sweet kendall. danny, thank you for sharing all that is happening. we love you and lift up beautiful little charlie in our thoughts and prayers. tight hugs, jo & steve

[Jane]

Praying hard for the whole family, but especially Charlie. God must make him alright.

[sandy martin]

Danny~
What incredible baby photos of Charlie and Kendall's hands!He's in such good (and God's) hands.He is adorable!

May he grow healthier each day.
My prayers and thoughts are with you and family ~
Love,
sandy

[Jennifer New]

I'm sending you love and strength, Danny. - Jennifer

[Julie Levin Freireich]

Danny,
Sometimes, I wish you were not such an incredible writer. You had me at "Mother's Day". Love to you Kendall, Leah and Charlie. Julie

[Arlene Silverman Andresen]

Beautiful picture, beautiful post and alot of tears of joy for your son who WILL BEAT this! He has to, he has a beautiful strong and loving family who is going to take him home, and you are all going to live a healthy and happy life together! Please take care of yourselves...and who cares about the ambien....whatever it takes, my friend. You need your strenght.

Love, Arlene

[Julie R.]

Danny and Kendall,
I'm still thinking of you all the time and sending my most positive thoughts your way. A belated happy mother's day to Kendall, and a gentle caress to Charlie.

Love,
Julie

[Compost Studios]

Crying. So sorry Danny for the recent setbacks and heartaches...

V-Grrrl

[Lynne]

Oh Danny. Sending all my love and prayers to you all.

[Lynne Margulies]

That was me above.

[Molly]

You and your family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

[open palm]

oh dear hearts! (forgive the familiarity from a complete stranger!) the photo is breathtaking as is the whole story (even when there is so much more to write.)

blessings on you and you and you
--op

[david]

Danny: Does he have a Hebrew name . . . ? Not that you need to add another thing to your list, or that a prayer without a Hebrew name wouldn't do any good. But on the off chance he does, I'll get his name mentioned at synagogue on Shabbat.

We're all thinking of and praying for all of you.

[OldOldLady Of The Hills]

The ups and downs have to be so incredibly difficult and moving and beyond emotional....You all are in my thoughts and my prayers, especially little baby Charlie---May he be strong and healthy and home with you all, as soon as is Humanly possible....What dear dear pictures these are Danny....
I hope you and Kendall et some rest, my dear...Don't worry about whatever you need to take to get to sleep or anything else...It will all be fine!
(((((((HUGS)))))))

[stacy budowsky]

We follow Spencer's blog and read about your family. Someone gave me some great advice when my son was sick as a baby ten tears ago. No matter what, forever and ever, Charlie and Oliver( and Leah, too) are your children. You are forever connected and that should make you feel better, it is a wonderful miraculous thing. You are the one they will turn to forever as their Dad. You and your wife are very lucky, no matter what, to have them as you own.

Do not worry about all the residual stuff, the world will be there for you when you return from taking care of the baby, your daughter, your wife and yourself

Mi shebeirach Avoteinu m'kor ha-bracha L'imoteinu.
May the Source of Strength Who blessed the ones before us, help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing, and let us say, Amein

[jill]

love you all danny.... thinking of you and praying and sending magic an good wishes

xxxooo jill

[Tom McCleister]

We think of you always and we can't wait to meet Charlie. Love, Tom & Lisa

[Elaine D'Ippolito]

wow.. amazing pics, amazing family