Fabric of Life

June 11, 2018, by Kristin Neva

Eight years ago today our lives became divided into before and after. Before the diagnosis, I took a lot for granted. We had the normal hopes and dreams of any young family with two small children. After the diagnosis, we needed to learn to live with this ever-changing disease.

The months and years continue to get sliced into before and after. Before we moved to Michigan. After Todd stopped working. Before Todd gave up driving. After he got the wheelchair. Before we got the handicap accessible van. Before we needed help at night but didn’t have it. After we began hiring nighttime help so we could sleep again. Before the diagnosis, the world felt safe, predictable. After the diagnosis, the reality of the fragility of life is always forefront in my mind, and with that the sense of amazement that any of us are here at all.

This morning, I pounded out the beginning of another chapter of a novel I’m writing. I took a break to look out the window and saw two sandhill cranes strutting down our gravel driveway. This afternoon, I had the joy of hearing Sara laugh and sing with her piano teacher. This evening, I’ll attend Isaac’s baseball game and pray he hits the ball. Tonight, Todd and I will laugh together as we watch a sitcom.

Moments of before and after, both major and minor woven together, become the fabric of our lives.

PS Thank you to our family and friends who support us financially so we can hire nighttime help. We couldn’t do this without you. If you know of someone who may be interested in our story, let them know Heavy for Kindle is discounted to 99 cents from June 12 through June 19.

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