Living with Logan: Today Is Surgery Day

First and foremost, if you haven't done so already, you need to read last night's update from Jackson's site. You can do that by clicking right HERE. After you've finished crying like I have been doing since yesterday, blow your nose and read on. But please... step away from the computer to do so. I have a thing about snot. Sorry, but them's the rules.

Today, at noon MST, Jackson will check in to the hospital for his hemispherectomy. At 2pm MST, surgery is scheduled to begin and is estimated to take between 4 and 6 hours. The family will be updated hourly throughout.

I love this family. I have grown close to Gina (Jackson's mother) over the last 2 years. I have worked with her online, talked with her for hours on the phone, laughed at things her monsters have done, whined with her about the amount of poop we clean up, the amount of sleep we don't get. I have talked to her daughter when she just wouldn't leave Momma alone, and Momma was ready to lose it. That was so. freakin. fun!! I love it when I hear a little tiny voice in the background asking if Mom is talking to Miss Caryn. Totally do. I've heard screaming in the car amidst promises of "We're going to find a train. We're going to find a train! Oh, look, Jackson! There's one!"

And I wish I had words. But I find that tears have replaced words, and emotions have replaced thoughts, as surgery looms ever closer with each hour that passes, and I try to imagine what's going through the minds and hearts of Jackson's parents. And I just can't wrap my mind around something of that enormity. I'm trying. I'm really trying. But I just can't begin to imagine it. And I hate that I live so far away from the St. Aubin family that I can't be there to hold their hands while they wait.

So, instead of holding their hands, I'm writing for you. So that I can feel like I'm helping, even though it's not nearly enough. I'll tell you about the mail flurry again via video (that will make you cry). I will show you a video of ecards for Jackson that people from all over the world sent to another friend friend of mine, who turned it into a movie for Jackson to see before surgery (that will make you cry). And I will tell you the other ways you can help, which are just as desperately needed as the flurry.

So, wipe your eyes (again), and blow your nose (away from your computer, please and thank you), set up those speakers, and prepare to view. Here we go.

Mail Flurry for Jackson **courtesy Beth Wilde**

Jackson's eCard movie **courtesy Deanne Shoyer**

And now, we're going to talk about those other ways to help I mentioned before. You can send gift cards for gas, groceries, and restaurants, because food at home and hospital, and transportation are not optional. So, you'll find a list below, that are actually clickable links (and I tested every. single. link.) which will take you to online sites for ordering gift cards, if you choose to help in that way. However, if you'd simply like to make a donation to the family, you can do that through rally.org by clicking HERE.

The address for mailing gift cards, drawings, letters and care packages is:

Special Happens / St. Aubin Family
9609 S. University Blvd. #630303
Littleton, CO 80163-0303

Gift Cards for local gas stations:

Gift Cards for local grocery and department stores:

Gift Cards for restaurants close to home and hospital:

Papa Murphy's Take-N-Bake Pizza

The St. Aubin family has told me over and over again how touched they are with the enormous outpouring of support they have seen over the last week. That's because of you all, the online special needs community, and others who have made it their purpose in life to show the family that they are not alone. Please help me continue in this effort of love and support, and help the St. Aubin family by choosing one of the options above.

Hands and help wanted images via the Google images