Welcome back, fearless readers! Damn does it feel good to type those words again. Now in the midst of the madness of my life over the duration of 2017, I have lost touch with a lot of things and people. If you really want to know what’s going on in my life, please don’t feel free to ask because I don’t want to talk about me. I want to talk about some little things.
I say little things, but I’d argue that they’re huge, life altering things, like a baby that has no right surviving, the beginning of a family and a community coming together. Jeffery Bohner III is a 20 year-old line cook in the pub I work at. He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever met, pulling doubles regularly six days a week. He’s an outstanding friend, a hell of a cook and now, a father.
“Keep the faith,” Jeff said when asked about he lived day to day. “When things look down, just look up” is this brave man’s catchphrase.
When we learned Jeff and his girlfriend Brooke were expecting Jeffery IV, my coworkers and I were ecstatic for them. That is, until we had to wait 19 weeks to meet the little tyke. I was at work with Jeff when he received the call that Brooke would be having the baby 21 weeks early, and I pray that I will not have to see that kind of fear, despair and excitement in a man’s eye ever again.
Jeff IV weighed 1.5 lbs when he was born roughly two months ago. So here’s my 20 y/o chef and the girl that he loves in a situation too grim to comprehend. We all knew that babies in said situation don’t have much hope. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect the worse for this new family. This poor, defenseless little thing was in our world, but who knew for how long?
Here’s the kicker y’all. Jeff IV is great. JEFFERY SCOTT BOHNER IV IS GOING TO MAKE IT!
Either because of some god, good vibrations or whatever, this little thing is getting bigger. He is still in NICU in Tuscaloosa, but he’s gained over a pound and seems to be defying all odds.
This where the little things really start to grow. I want to say I am not typing this because I want to blow our own horn, or to brag about how spectacular the community I am in is (even though they’re the dopest motherfuckers around.) This story continues to give me hope when I can find none, and you and the world need to know how selfless and loving humanity can be.
In a joint effort between nearly 80 saint-like employees, countless Facebook shares and plenty of pulled heart strings, we raised $2,000 for the Bohners. When our friend and his family needed us the most, we rose to the occasion. I laughed at Jeff when he said this was just another of the little things. To him, the money was just another tiny step towards the penultimate goal, getting his son home, with the final goal obviously being a healthy and happy life for them all.
The baby was successfully resuscitated once, which Jeff said was the best thing that ever happened besides the actual birth.
“You can’t take the negative,” Jeff told me. I can only assume how negative and depraved they must feel, so to hear him say that, I felt determined. Determined to look up, to not take the negative so serious. We just have to remember that we’re all here for a purpose, and that the universe picks its time.
I can be a heartless asshole pretty regularly, but the Bohners have me wanting to change that. The grandparents are already doting and I can only imagine how many times Jeff gets asked about his boy everyday.
I’ve never been apart of something like this. I’ve never imagined that humans could be so good. But check us out now. The gofundme account is still active so I’ll list it as well as Jeff’s Facebook page down below, and I know they’d love some encouragement. Say hey, donate, or just read this story and sleep better tonight.
The little things in life are getting bigger. And I’d say that’s pretty damn cool. Yay Yay!
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