He's My Brother

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother -Written by B. Scott and B. Russell

The road is long

With many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where

Who knows when

But I'm strong

Strong enough to carry him

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go

His welfare is of my concern

No burden is he to bear

We'll get there

For I know

He would not encumber me

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all

I'm laden with sadness

That everyone's heart

Isn't filled with the gladness

Of love for one another

It's a long, long road

From which there is no return

While we're on the way to there

Why not share

And the load

Doesn't weigh me down at all

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He's my brother

He ain't heavy, he's my brother...

Some of you recognise this song from the 70's... some of you recognise it from the 80's when it played during an anti-drug campaign commercial (that's probably where I first heard it). Read through the lyrics, it's a beautiful song.

During my pregnancy I wondered if I was having a boy or a girl. I wanted a little girl so that I had one of each and I wanted a little boy so that David and his brother would be close in age like my dad and his brother (my Uncle Ches). I hoped like any mother hopes that they would be best friends.

We found out Noah was a boy shortly after they told us our baby was very sick, not likely to survive. After receiving the details of Noah's suspected diagnosis I began to grieve for my baby boy. I also became immensely worried of what we would do should our baby boy survive. How would we take care of him? What would it mean for David? The first few days after we first heard the words "trisomy 13" two questions repeated in my mind.

1. What will I do if he doesn't make it?

2. What will I do if he does?

I was very ashamed that it was the second of the two questions that plagued me most.

Taking a picture of my two sons today and wondering again how we will all be touched by Noah's life this song came to my mind and I know you can apply the words to all of us who love Noah...

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

He ain't heavy, he's my grandson

He ain't heavy, he's my nephew

He ain't heavy, he's my baby