DIANE: I think the hardest part this time around for me, and it's been the hardest part every time in getting ready, is delivering my other son to where he's got to be the night before. This was very, very hard. To say goodbye to him was really hard because I knew he was going off scared and nervous.

BILL: This time he was with his cousins so he was really distracted. We had an outing where we bought him a new bike, so that was a great thing for him. I think he came through this last one okay. He was better while Jake was actually in the hospital than he was before. Before (the surgery) was when he was really concerned.

DIANE: Anticipating things is often so far, so much worse than actually getting in and just doing it. By the time the day of surgery rolls around, part of you is scared to death, but part of you feels like let's just be done with it. Let's get it over with. 'Cause waiting I think is the hardest part, and kids are no different for that.

. . .

The waiting I think is the hardest part, and kids are no different for that. Jake at two years old, there wasn't much we could do to prepare him. I think as kids get older that's the part for families they must really struggle with.

I have a friend whose five year old is going in for a relatively minor cardiac procedure. This little girl is asking her if she's going to die, talking about the angels and where she wants to be buried -- at five. That kind of stuff we didn't have to deal with, with Jake. It was easier in a lot of ways. I think that would be very hard to try and explain to them and keep them calm while you're not feeling very calm yourself.

In that way it was easier than an older child, I guess. Part of Jake is so used to that hospital, and really comfortable there, that that's helpful. He doesn't scream when you walk in the doors of Children's Hospital and I know a lot of kids that do. He doesn't. He seems to really get a kick out of the doctors and the nurses. He goes visiting. We go in the cardiac clinic for his appointment and he walks around with his little johnny, visits all the doctors and nurses. He's got a little routine about it that I think he actually likes, so that's been helpful. He likes the attention, I think, which is good.

Whatever works for him.