Don't say it. Don't say "oh, poor baby" about him. Don't even think it!
Born missing part of his heart, not being able to swallow, or breathe without extra oxygen. Getting stuck once a month, xrays, anesthesia, surgery, surgery, surgery... nobody said any of that was easy. But it was worth it. Every single moment was worth it.
Step back a moment and see things from his perspective. Did he know pain? Sure he did, but it was normal for him. Its like being born with blue eyes. Everyone can see your eyes except you. You are born accepting the fact you have blue eyes without seeing them. Maybe some day you need glasses. Ehh, no biggie. They just make life a little easier, right?
Tommy was born with his birth defects. He accepted them as a part of himself. He was not aware that not everybody was born as special as he was. WE feel his pain because WE are different, not him. WE understand what it feels like to have a whole heart and how to breath with our noses. For him, he was just accepting he had blue eyes.
Watch his videos, look through his pictures. You'll see nothing but smiles from a kid that thought he was just like you and me. Eventually, I would have had to break the news to him he was different. And not in a bad way. I mean in a beautiful, unique, special, out of this world way! He rose above the adversity that he didn't even know he had.
He will forever be my hero and my inspiration. Congenital heart defects ended his short, spectacular life, but nothing will ever destroy his spirit. He never was and never will be anybody's poor baby.
