Since I wrote the "O and Pain" poem, O has been through a lot.

The broken growth plates have failed to heal.

His bone marrow is infected, and he has a picc line inserted so he can get antibiotics injected at home.

He has cellulitis in several spots and will need skin grafts.

His leg is in a brace to keep the broken parts from getting more broken.

O asks when he will be able to walk again, but his mother can't bear to tell him the truth.

O will never walk again.

O asks me where my 2 year old is every time I see him. "Where is baby James?"

O plays with James at church, laughing like the 8 year old he is.

O loves watching movies with the other kids, engrossed in the goofy plots, and telling us about it afterwards.

O goes to Disneyland and to the Ren Faire and to the sushi place and to school every day.

O wants to run and play and ride his bike.

O doesn't know that anything is wrong.

He doesn't know.