Instead, he was in a hospital bed.
His energy was limited, and the doctors had asked us to keep the celebration small.
I planned a quiet morning with a few decorations, a special breakfast if he felt like eating, and gifts he could enjoy from bed.
I tried to convince myself that it would be enough.
Eli seemed happy when he woke.
"Am I five now?"
I smiled.
"Yes, sweetheart."
He looked at his hands.
"Do I look bigger?"
I laughed softly.
"Maybe a little."
He examined his feet beneath the blanket.
"These look the same."
"Sometimes growing takes time."
Eli frowned.
"That's disappointing."
I laughed.
Then he asked, "Is Wade coming?"
I looked at the clock.
"Probably."
My son smiled.
"Good."
At ten o'clock, the biker arrived wearing a ridiculous paper racing helmet over his shaved head.
It was bright yellow and far too small.
Eli burst out laughing.
"Wade!"
The biker looked confused.
"What?"
"Your hat!"
Wade touched it.
"What's wrong with my professional racing equipment?"
"It's tiny!"
The biker glanced at his reflection in the window.
"Well, that's embarrassing."
Eli laughed harder.
Then Wade stepped aside.
Two nurses entered carrying a small cake decorated with blue racing stripes. Behind them came a child-life specialist holding a paper banner covered in pictures of cars.
I stared.
I hadn't arranged any of it.
Wade looked toward me.
"Hope this is okay. We checked with the team first."
I nodded, unable to speak.
Eli's face glowed.
The cake was small.
The decorations were simple.
There were no elaborate gifts or noisy crowds.
But the room felt alive in a way I hadn't experienced for months.
The staff sang softly.
Eli smiled through the entire song.
Then Wade placed a tiny blue toy car beside the cake.
It had the number five painted on the side.
My son gasped.
"That's my number!"
Wade nodded solemnly.
"Five-time world champion."
Eli frowned.
"I'm only five."
The biker smiled.
"Then you're ahead of schedule."
Everyone laughed.
After the celebration, Eli became tired and rested against his pillows. The nurses returned to work, and the little decorations remained hanging around the room.
Wade sat beside the bed.
"Good birthday, champion?"
Eli nodded.
"The best."
The biker smiled.
"I'm glad."
My son looked at the tiny blue car.
Then he asked, "Did you have birthdays when you were little?"
Wade laughed.
"A few."
"Did you have cake?"
"Sometimes."
"Did you have toy cars?"
The biker's smile softened.
"Yeah. I did."
Eli studied him.
"Did you give anybody cars?"
Wade looked down.