Friends' Impressions continued

After my son Michael was unexpectedly born 12 weeks early at the weight of 2 lbs 2 ounces, I had many friends and family giving me lots of assurance. Many friends, especially casual friends, told me things in an effort to reassure me that really offended me at that point in the situation. I got so tired of hearing "oh, a friend of mine had a premature baby and he's 50 lbs now, your son will be just fine." They had no idea of what I was going through, or, the extent of Michael's struggles.

I saw Mr. Brandon a couple of weeks after Michael was born--I had tried to return to work part-time, while Michael was still in the hospital. I saw Mr. Brandon in the hall at the Courthouse, and, apparently, he had heard about the situation. He immediately asked how Michael was doing. I gave him my standard speech about how dire the situation was. He quickly and without hesitation looked at me with his hundred year-old eyes and said, "he'll be allright...he's gonna be allright...he's going to be a big ole boy...he'll be just fine." Somehow I knew that Mr. Brandon was right. No part of me questioned his authority or the validity of his statement. That statement stayed in the back of my mind through thick and thin over the next several months, and, provided me reasurance when I needed it the most. I saw Mr. Brandon again a couple of weeks later, and he again asked how Michael was doing. Things had gotten much worse. I explained again, and told him that there was a possibility that Michael wouldn't make it. He again repeated his assurance with identical confidence as he had before.

Well, Michael was eventually ok, and is now a strong and clever little four year old. Whenever I take Michael to see Mr. Brandon, or when Mr. Brandon asks about my family, I always give a positive report, and he always says quietly and quickly, almost under his breath "I told you he was going to be allright, he's a good looking boy, he's going to be a big'un...I told you he'd be just fine."

Brian Robertson, Director, Office of Information Technology

Friends impressions continued