Dave,
As with all the rest, your story and that of Sam, brought sobs to this ole heart.
But lest we forget, God sometimes says "NO" to our prayers.
Good friends had a son born with part of his heart undeveloped...underwent several surgeries, had challenges but was the happiest baby I ever met, even though he threw up most of what he ate and had other issues.
He was "on the table" at just past age 2 for more reconstructive work, getting a cath in prep, and crashed and passed quietly.
We all had him for those 2.5 years. His mother chose a funeral song, a country song, about rather have had the pain then missed the dance...
So not every story ends so heart-warmingly. Which makes your story and that of Sam's all the more important and touching! They didn't have St. Jude to go to... but I'm sure the doctors did all they knew, but that li'l one had a place reserved in Heaven and gave all the love he had every day he was here on earth.
Congratulations on having such a great story to share, a living testament to God's miracles, and such a beautiful bow!
Prayers for your son and family as time moves on...