MARCH 13TH

Eman turns 40 today. A bunch of us chip to buy him an ipad. The kids load it with fotos, your messages to him, music, things to read and watch. We make our way to the hospital. Once again the hospital directors have kindly given permission for us to "invade", we had let them know it was his birthday and he has a large family.... I don't think they quite understood just how large. Thankfully there are only two other patients in the ICU room. The nurses have sectioned off Eman's corner of the room so we have our only little private area. When we all walk in grasping balloons and bags and what-have-you .... we see Eman propped UPRIGHT in sitting position [first time] and ..... Eman has buzzed his hair!!!!! His trademark long blonde hair [that he's had for 20 years] is GONE.........he laughs at all of our astonished faces [I think he'd been waiting all day to see our reactions]... and says he wants to be like Samson, whose strength grew back along with his hair. Eman LOVES his ipad, and says that now we can all call him "I-man" instead of "E-man"........... it's a wonderful time together. We are all just so happy that we can celebrate this special day with Eman. We have smuggled in two small cakes and some candles as well as vitamins and juices. When we are all finally shooed out, I think everyone is "abuzz" the love that we all felt present in that little room was almost tangible, it felt like electricity running through all of us. To everyone who wrote, called and passed birthday messages to Eman. Thank you! He was was and continues to be very touched. If there is anything I am learning from this experience it is this..........................IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE!!!!! We NEVER know what tomorrow might bring. As much as we'd like to be, we are NOT in control of our lives...............from one minute - one second to the next EVERYTHING could change.............ANYTHING could happen, and when it comes down to it, when you REALLY realize what your priorities are - it's about LOVE! The family you love, the people you love ... the things you treasure, the things you'd miss. At this very moment in our lives the force that we feel upholding us through this experience is LOVE. From our hearts to yours God bless you. We love you & thank you for YOUR love and prayers. *** The Chief Neuro Surgeon Dr.Monteiro came by today and told Eman "looks like you DO have some sensations in your lower limbs, maybe we will operate to remove the bone pressuring your spinal cord on Friday" *** !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!