A special guest joined the kids and I today on our Sunday visit. Melissa Disney is like a sister to me, one of my closest friends, but since she is a working mother who lives in north LA, she can’t get down to visit Vernon very often. We were lucky enough to get her overnight by herself and we kept her with us as long as possible today. At her suggestion, we threw Maki’s guitar in the car, just in case she felt a little song coming on. We knew she would.

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I’m not sure if music will be the main medium, but I think we might be going into a season where Maki will take more of a role in his dad’s recovery. Not that I would put that responsibility on him, of course. But as Vernon grows in awareness, I think he’s starting to be fascinated by Maki again. I can hear it in the questions he asks him and the way he looks at him.  I can see the flicker of pride in his face again.  He was deeply moved as he remembered how he used to hold Maki on his shoulders as a child. And I expect Maki is beginning to enjoy watching the recovery more closely now that we have our HOPE back.  The disappointments of the past year have taken a lot from him, and I know its been harder than he lets on.

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I’d told Vernon last week that I’d bring him an iPad if he thought he was ready for it. He was always such a tech-head, that it seems some sort of computer/device would be a good tool for him, but we only try it out again every few months. It usually ends up being a frustration and a reminder of how handicapped he actually is.  I don’t think he’s quite ready this time either, but maybe we’ll try again next month. Thanks for the loaner, Maki.

Justine of course, has never had a doubt, that her dad would recover.

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Melissa figured out some simple Beatles songs as Vernon’s favorite musicians, the Logie Family, couldn’t be there today. They have been spoiling him with their gifts. Chris Logie knows so many Beatle’s songs, that Justine thinks the family IS the Beatles and that he is the lead singer. Well, Vernon has always loved Melissa’s voice too. Who wouldn’t?

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I just want to brag on Melissa for a minute before finishing up. She was honored last week with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Child Advocacy in Africa. Story HERE. She doesn’t brag about much, so I’ll do it for her. She’s got a huge heart of gold.

I suggested out loud that a good goal for Vernon might be that he and Joe could come to my parent’s house on Christmas Day. I have no idea if he’ll be ready by then but it seems like a good goal to put out there. We like the sound of it. Joe perked up with transportation ideas. Mind you, Vernon hasn’t travelled by wheelchair since about a year ago, and he’s never without nearby nursing assistance,  so it would be a definite Christmas Miracle if this happens. Something to hope for, for sure.

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Justine picked up on this idea as if it was already decided and started organizing the event. In fact, she started pushing for Halloween. She hears Hope as Truth. That’s how good young ears are…the younger the human, the better the hearing.

Hope is contagious. Melissa, as expected, felt the song coming on. Pardon my lack of videography skills, but you’ll get the idea:

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What a great crew to look forward to the future with.

 

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