Jon's 18th

I have often wondered, like every parent I suppose, how tall would he be and how big his dreams would be as he turned eighteen and I shall keep wondering for as long as I like.

Ever since he was a very young boy, Jon had that faraway look in his eyes and in his mind something was constantly brewing. He always had a task to attend to,a book to finish reading, a theory to test, a question to query, he had a certain purpose in his stride until one fateful day that stride turned into 'a spastic gait'. As it slowly paralysed his left side, Jon maintained his composure. He used his walking stick with equal dexterity and he walked proud and brave. And he kept on walking to fulfill his purpose in this life. And that is how we shall always remember our son.

Last Saturday night, we celebrated his 18th birthday with family and friends at home. It was a special feeling sharing a meal and spending time with our closest and dearest who walked the journey with Jon and us. It's even hard to imagine almost 2 years have gone by and it is the same in me as with Agnes, not a day passes by when we do not think of or feel Jon in our hearts and lives. Sometimes tears fill our eyes but most times, it puts smiles on our lips. And I think Jon was smiling, even grinning his trademark grin that night when he turned 18.