CERTIFICATION CELEBRATION

At the surprise celebration for Sam passing his Certified Surgical First Assistant test last night. With Allison's family, Brian (almost completely hidden) and Ben. A friendly patron offered to capture the moment.

The mission, should we accept it, was for everyone to be ready to leave for a surprise dinner honoring Sam. Our daughter-in-law Allison, in the gray and white stripes, would text everyone with the good news.

The good news we all wanted to hear would include one word: PASSED! If that word wasn't in the message, well, celebration canceled. But it happened! Our son Sam took and passed a very long, difficult test yesterday. Once he finished, the computer generated the results to the proctor: PASSED!

Sam is now a Certified Surgical First Assistant at St. Vincent Hospital in Indy. Yes, the big one.

He's been a Certified Surgical Tech for several years now, working in surgeries of every kind that you can possibly imagine and many that you can't. We are so proud of our boy. He's also the Robotics Coordinator there.

I have to give God all the praise how He has had his hand on this boy who has had more obstacles than computerized tests to overcome. How about open-heart surgery at 11 months, and again at age 19. But still, he perseveres. And we can't be more thankful for his wife Allison, and for her supportive, wonderful family.  Blessings.

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The newly certified Surgical First Assistant, (CSFA) Sam, left, and little bro, Ben, last night.

Also surprising Sam last night was his good buddy, also a CSFA at St. V., Jas Sharp.

We all met up at the Castleton MCL. Jas leads the pack, then Sam chatting with his sister-in-law, Lauren, who is a nurse practitioner at Riley Hospital, then his father-in-law, John, and Brian behind him. The rest of the group had already gotten their food.

Allison always knows how to make occasions special. She even had "theme" parting gifts for the guests of first-aid kits ... and this note.