The Story Behind 'Lil Warrior'
If you have been around here for any amount of time, you know that I use the term "Lil Warrior" quite often. However, I have never really explained how it came to be and why it has taken on such a life of its own.
The old adage "you make plans, and God laughs" has been true in my life hundreds, if not thousands, of times, as I'm sure many can relate. This was also true with my birth experience. That saying even came to mind when I was in the midst of my medical crisis. Not yet realizing how serious the situation was, I jokingly said to my doctor, "You were right when you told me not to plan out this birth ." All that to say that from the second Elliott's body left mine, I knew he was a fighter and someone absolutely remarkable.
Fast-forward to when I joined Elliott in the NICU at Dell Children's Hospital. I noticed that all the babies' rooms had beautiful art and pictures on their doors. The first few days, he was in pretty critical condition, so the artwork on his door seemed unimportant. However, once he was a little more stable, I requested that his room be adorned with some art as well.
When asked what I wanted, a picture of a Warrior was the first thing that came to mind. Nathan and I had been calling Elliott our 'Lil Warrior' from day one. When I looked up the definition of a warrior, it read: a person engaged in some struggle or conflict who has shown great vigor and courage. It seemed like a no-brainer to personalize his room to resemble a Warrior's.
We told the nurse what we wanted, and she came up with this character on her own. The warrior was so fitting that it quickly turned into the image used to represent Elliott's strength and journey.
The next day, my dad showed up with shirts he made for all the men to wear in the hospital.
Elliott was soon called the Lil Warrior by all the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who came to know and support our family. His therapist still calls Elliott Lil Warrior to this day.
Over the course of the year, the warrior image took off. Nathan and my cousin Cassidy got tattoos, our family all over the country made shirts, and wore them proudly. My dad's license plate and golf cart were turned warrior-themed, my mom made a beautiful quilt, we received gifts symbolizing the warrior, and ultimately, it was the inspiration for this blog.
As more years have passed, the name only seems to be more fitting for Elliott as he continues to defy the odds and show great vigor. Strong, determined, headstrong, and most importantly, CAPABLE & COURAGEOUS to conquer any challenge he faces.
I have no doubt that this nickname will stick with him for life, and more opportunities will continue to present themselves with this image. For now, here are some fun pictures to capture the multitude of ways we have felt supported for our boy.
