"Dad, What Just Happened?"

After a mostly sleepless night, the nurse came in and brought us down to the waiting area for the operating room. I held Kiddo, stroking her hair as we waited for the nurses to come and get her. When it was time to take her to the OR, the nurse said that only one of us could go with her. My wife looked at me and said, 'You're going to have to do this.' Kiddo gave our assembled family hugs and kisses and climbed back up into my arms. We made our way down to the OR, with her long arms and legs awkwardly wrapped around me. I thought about how I hadn't held her like this for a few years, but I was glad I was getting a chance to now.

I held her tight until it was time to lay her on the operating table. I stood next to her and told her that I loved her as the anesthesia took hold and she fell asleep. I gave her one more teary kiss and made the long walk back to the waiting room. Family and friends filed in and out of the waiting room throughout the day and made the hours pass a little more quickly. Finally, the surgeon came in and said that the operation went well, and that she should be awake in a short time.

After what seemed like an eternity, a nurse came in and said that Kiddo was starting to wake up and was asking to see us. My wife and I went in and saw her lying there, rolling her eyes back and forth, fighting to stay awake. She asked me in a small, raspy voice, 'Dad, what just happened?' I doubt I'll hear more beautiful words in all of my life.