The hospital staff had been very attentive monitoring his condition and doing whatever they could do.  I kept vigil by my son’s side late into the night, eventually slumped over in a bedside chair.  

At some point after midnight the night doctor entered the room.  He looked over his little patient -who was nearly one year at this time- and then told me he felt Alok was out of immediate danger.

He advised me to go home and sleep awhile.  I was rather hesitant but at last I gave in.  We lived so close and that was something of a comfort.

I slept hard, the phone didn’t ring (we saw that as a good sign) and after a light breakfast Diana and I headed to Alok.  Before we stepped into his room we were at the nurse’s station to let them know we arrived.

The on-duty nurse said he looks real well considering all he went through …she then told us that during the night he took a turn for the worse!

What??  What is the reason they didn’t call us?  She said because it all happened so quickly and just as fast they brought him back out of it, they were getting to the call.  “…oh but he’s doing so much better now!”  We were beside ourselves with shock and saying no more went straight away to the room.

No sooner we walked in when Alok saw us through the tent.  He then leapt up and with his little arms extended and fingers wiggling frantically he repeatedly said in his baby words, “My daddy, I want my daddy!”  and this daddy knew exactly what he was saying!

Well not only did that squeeze my heart bringing tears of joy to both his parents’ eyes, it was reassuring to see all that energy -especially after what we were told about earlier that morning.  Seeing him looking so well we all but forgot about the missing phone call.

It was advised Alok stay in the hospital one more night for observation.  We embraced him through the tent; I wanted to squeeze him so tight.

Not understanding his surroundings he repeatedly cried, “Go home!”  For such a little guy he tried desperately to get out of the protective tent.  

Diana and I stayed with him most of the day.  We played with him and read to him and watched him sleep.  Alok’s condition was rapidly improving and I’m sure it had much to do with his parents’ presence.  

That evening we went home after constantly assuring him that he’d go home with us in the morning.  Admittedly it was very difficult to leave him and we had to wait till he was napping again.  

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