Cheerio

This little one has been in the hospital almost 100 days. She's mid bone marrow transplant. Through a gown and mask and gloves I try to make her happy. She grunts and points until I understand that Cheerios is the answer. Cheerios I can do. Focused, tongue pressed out the corner of her mouth, she expertly uses her tiny thumb and pointer finger to select a single O. Success. She smiles. She eats exactly half and pulls down my mask to feed me the other soggy piece. I don't know if Cheerios have ever come so close to making me cry.