Tiny Fingers, Tiny Toes

Tiny fingers, tiny toes.

Future bright with possibilities.

Little trucks, stuffed animals, and sesame street fill your day.

You’ve only known the world for a year.

 

Everything gone in an instant, a second.

CPR

Chest compressions.

One, two, three

Breathe.

One, two, three

Breathe

 

The clock counting.

10:10

One, two, three,

Breathe.

15:13

One, two, three,

Breathe.

 

15 of us surround the bed,

Doctors, nurses, chaplain.

Hoping, praying.

“Dear God, make him breathe.”

One, two, three,

Breathe.

“God, he is only one.”

One, two, three,

Breathe.

“God, he has never experienced love.”

One, two, three,

Breathe.

“God, don’t take this little one.”

One, two, three,

Breathe.

 

Tiny fingers, tiny toes.

“Time of death, 18:20. Chaplin would you pray?”

Chaplain, “Why, God, why?”……