It's real! No more finger props to hold up a sagging left side. This is a true smile! Interestingly, he can't do it when he's trying. There has to be something that touches his funny bone to get the ear-to-ear grin we've been waiting for. I actually had to say something embarrassing to get this one on film. Which leads me to another significant thing about this event--Neil is getting his sense of humor back. He's not to the point of jumping on tables in his banana costume yet, but it's starting to feel like we're seeing the old Neil a bit. Happy day!Neil took a trip to school today to pick up his yearbook. He ate lunch in the cafeteria (two pieces of pizza) and sat with friends who came over to sign his book. It was great to see he was voted "Biggest Kid at Heart," and we found a picture of him in his infamous banana suit. If that doesn't bring a smile to a person's face, I don't know what will!
"They might not need me — yet they might —
I'll let my Heart be just in sight —
A smile so small as mine might be
Precisely their necessity —"
Emily Dickinson
5 comments:
Great picture, love it! It's so nice to hear that his sense of humor is coming back. Glad he got to see friends at school today. This post brought tears to my eyes, he is amazing!
Great Smile, Cool Yearbook!
Hope you had a good time visiting friends and having pizza lunch.
Love, The Roberg's
Before I read your words......I said to myself.....OMG look at that smile..looks like more of "Neil" coming back into being! Then your words were precisely about that. He is coming back stronger and stronger....little by little...one thing at a time.... and must help you to appreciate so much each individual accomplishment as it occurs. If they happened all at once ..something might be missed!
So very happy to see that smile! So glad he got the yearbook as well and hung out a bit. I saw him in there in his banana costume also and it made me smile. Now Neil's smile is making me smile! Hooray for the small blessings in life that we can sometimes overlook!
Hugs to you all!
Hi Lori, my name is Leah and I'm a junior at Neil's school. I've never spoken to Neil, but we have some mutual friends and when I heard about his accident months ago it literally brought me to tears. Since then, I've checked this blog almost every day but I've never been brave enough to comment because I felt like I didn't have anything meaningful enough to say. Yesterday, though, I happened to be at Chipotle at the same time as you and your family were there, and it was incredible for me to see Neil after hearing all about his progress over the last few months. Neil looks so awesome and he is doing so well! You and the members of your family must be some of the most amazing people in the world. I can't imagine anyone reacting to such a difficult situation in a better way. I didn't want to interrupt your dinner to say something and besides, I'm pretty sure Neil has no clue who I am, but I would just like to say that I think about Neil and your family every day and I felt unbelievably happy and touched to see how great Neil is doing and all the progress he has made.
Oh Neil - love it!! And Aunt Lori, those words of Emily Dickinson - perfect.
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