I hear the election results blaring from a tv located in a common room about 20 feet from this computer at The Children's Home. Even though this election night is an important night for people all over America the only person that I'm concerned about at this moment is my son Zachary. He is spending his last night at The Children's Home in a warm bed surrounded by monitors that glow and machines that ring. His last night here will be just like his first. The nursing care will be constant. Their attention to his needs will be no different than the night before. Zachary will, by all accounts, never know the difference.

But even though the routine is the same, everyone knows that this is not just any normal night. It is Zachary's last night in Pittsburgh. It is a special night to be savored in the same way a young child savors Christmas Eve with the anticipation of presents the next day. Although it is getting late for me too, sleep will have to wait.  For now,  I am too edgy thinking of what lies in store for my family tomorrow.

Wednesday is Discharge Day for my son. This is the day that we have been looking forward to for a very very long time. The plan is for the ambulance to pick Zachary up at 10am and take him to Allegheny County airport. From there he will board a medical plane that will fly him to Baltimore-Washington International Airport where an ambulance will take him on his final leg to his home in Severna Park, Maryland. Arrival time is somewhere around 1pm.

I've been asked numerous times if I am excited about tomorrow. To be honest I am somewhat calm about the whole thing.  We've seen this date pushed back more than one time over the past few months.  Perhaps when the plane is taxing down the runway I'll start hyperventilating with excitement. I can say with 100% conviction that I look forward to returning home to see Deanna, Aidan, Maddie and my dog Bailey. I am looking forward to walking around in my house in my socks, seeing familiar photos on the wall and of course, sleeping in my own bed. Watching Zachary sit on the floor with the rest of the family milling about is what I have been visualizing for months now. These moments are just within my reach.

What my family has gone through over these past several months has been daunting for sure. We have put our lives on a slow motion pace while the rest of the world kept moving forward at regular speed. Even though we endured this gauntlet we know that we didn't do it alone. Many friends, acquaintances and even strangers have helped us along the way. This was a journey that left behind thousands of footprints on our path.

Tomorrow will certainly be a special day for my family, our friends and everyone else who has followed Zachary story over these past two years. But this story doesn't stop here. It will continue for many years to come. Maybe it will be my son's name blaring from a tv set on Election Day years from now. The world is a large place with plenty of opportunities and Zachary is just getting started.

As I mentioned in a prior blog, I have written a book describing Zachary's ordeal with his hospital visits, transplant and other insights. A publishing company has recently accepted my manuscript and is now in the process turning this into a book. I will continue with my shameless promotion of "A View From Bed 15" well after the book is available for all interested. Keep checking back on this site for more continuing blogs on Zachary's progress and life at our new home... I mean our old home. I've got to get some sleep.

Brian and Deanna
johnjoss22@msn.com