So much more

Before we left for our trip to Michigan a few weeks ago, I was nervous about how I would handle people's reaction to Eli's leg. I knew we would be out and about a lot more than we are here at home, and was really dreading the stares. I was pleasantly surprised by how mild things were for the majority of the trip. Of course, people would stare here and there, but I was surrounded by family and friends and just kind of brushed it off.

But on our way back to FL, it all just became too much. Things were particularly bad at the Orlando airport. As I walked with my precious cargo in the stroller it just seemed like everyone was staring at him. Now I get it to a certain point. Its not everyday that you see a baby with a) a bandage on his leg, and more importantly b) with one foot. But for whatever reason the people at the airport that day were particularly ignorant and hateful. I am not talking about a quick glance, when I say "stare" I mean a full on long and drawn out stare.

At one point I took him into the bathroom to change him and a woman in line looked at him and screamed out "oh poor baby!" Then, the grand finale, another woman later on walked by, noticed his missing foot and loudly gasped in horror! I can still hear her gasp it was so damn loud.

It has taken me about 2 weeks to even begin to have words to describe my heartache that day. I want to protect my baby from the ignorance, from the hate, but I can't. I am filled with an intense rage and want to hurt these people very, very badly. What I feel is really indescribable unless you have experienced yourself.

I know what I need to do, I just don't know how I can do it.

I think what breaks my heart the very most, is that it seems that these ignorant people look at him and all they see is his "missing foot." The fact is, he is so much more.