WOW! I took a deep breath.

After two years of not hearing from a mother and her now teenage daughter, it took me off guard when she whispered “you changed our lives”, just as she was slipping out my door.  We had finally reconnected over a long overdue lunch.  I remembered all the tears and tantrums as well as all of the triumphs.  The first time Jordan got herself into standing, the first steps, the first attempt at stairs- interspersed with the first of many tumbles, ice packs, bandaids, casts, surgeries, and the first glimpse of teenage attitude complete with eye roll.

Hard to believe this is the toddler who drug herself across the floor with one arm, briefly pausing to lift her head and try to see where she was going; the child who later returned in bilateral long leg braces and could not stand by herself….

Now she is walking beautifully, without orthotics, or anything else, just like everyone else.  She makes jokes and has best friends.  She and her mom seem to have settled into a rhythm that is easy and good.  The daily combat over the simplest of things seems to have melted away.

I am the one who is thankful.  She said I changed their lives, but I think it is the opposite.  She and Jordan gave me so much.  I am honored that she believed in me enough to share Jordan, her most precious belonging, with me.  Such an amazing gift.

That I could help them in their journey is small in comparison.  Chalk up one for physical therapy.  Chalk up two for Jordan.