Holding a baby

A friend of mine has a daughter who had her baby about 3 months ago. He was born with his esophagus disconnected from his stomach. After a few surgeries, he is still in the hospital with a tracheotomy tube in his neck, a feeding line in his nose, and as of yesterday, a new plug in his tummy so he can be fed more easily. Right now his vocal chords don't work, and they aren't sure if he'll ever know how to swallow.
His mommy is young and single, and she can't be with him every day because she has to work. My friend sent a list around in church for volunteers to go up to the hospital to hold and play with the baby. I spent a few hours with him today.
I learned that babies are beautiful no matter how many wires and tubes are hooked up to their little bodies. I learned that babies don't have to make noise when they cry in order for you to feel sad that they are tired and won't go to sleep. I learned that it was hard to say goodbye to a baby that I had only met, because even after only a few hours of holding him, I got attached to him and wondered what he'll look like as he grows up. I learned that I can mother other people's kids in ways other than yelling "Get down from there!" or "We don't do that in our house." I learned that although we may get imperfect bodies, we are still very lucky to have them.
I highly recommend that you take time to volunteer at a local hospital to hold a baby. I cannot imagine how awful it would be to have to depend upon the kindness of strangers to help my baby feel loved while I was at work. I can imagine how much it means to a little baby to have a few hours in someone's lap instead of in a crib alone. And I know what it feels like to hold and sing to a baby who really needs it, and whose mom really appreciates it.