"Find joy and peace in this very moment" - September 26, 2011

"Find joy and peace in this very moment." 
          -Thich Nhat Hanh

As you can see from the photo above, Stephen and Anemo have matching hair styles. It all started last week when Stephen had Anemo shave his head in preparation for surgery. The next morning, Anemo decided that he too would like that look and Stephen took the electric razor to our son's head. Luckily no one suggested I join in solidarity.....

The lifesaver candy-like bits on Stephen's head were placed on him at his MRI appointment today. They will act as markers as the neurosurgeon navigates through his brain during the operation.

This morning was all about being tested. The MRI went well and he even agreed to stay in longer so he could help with a research project (a total of an hour and 15 min!). The MSI was next and he spent an hour and a half locked in a vault of a room answering questions so they could record his brain activity. As only Stephen would, he spent much of the time trying to come up with creative and complex answers to simple images and mundane directions.

We (two grandfathers, an uncle, a mom, and dad) proudly watched Anemo at soccer practice in the afternoon and then had a quiet and casual dinner as a family.

We are ready, as ready as we can be. The good thing about having gone through this before is that we have a sense of what to expect. The negative part of having gone through it before is being able to visualize it all. Years ago, Stephen told me I was his favorite person. Yesterday, in one of those moments when I feared what was to come, he comforted me, assuring me that all will be fine. The fact that Stephen can keep his sense of humor, maintain his equilibrium during such uncertain times, find joy and peace in the moment, for all these reasons and many more, he is my favorite person.

Suzanne