A Husband's Tribute

Helena has been providing updates to our family blog since its inception. In tribute to her as tomorrow is Mother's Day, I wanted to express some of my own words of gratitude.

As no one can deny, our journey over the past 6 months has taken Helena and I to deep layers of despair as we faced unknowns and disappointment, but through these darker times emerged light from the one that has become our teacher and our hero. Yes, I am speaking of Meghan. But Meghan is not alone in holding this role. Helena stands by her side. In her humility and her desire to do all she could during long nights not knowing what the future may unveil, Helena stood resolute in her passion to believe and to trust. During times when I was low, she pulled me up when I felt all looked bleak. While Meghan is a hero to many, she is so because she has been blessed to have a mother who is selfless, kind, and one who I hope to be with and learn from as we continue our journey through this life.

I give thanks to mothers everywhere. Your influence on family is immense. I have had the opportunity to experience periods over the past few months of running my household without Helena. I look forward to her void at home soon being filled by her return. Her strength and the joy she brings into our home has been missed. I love her and wish her this day as I do to all mothers including my own, a Happy Mother's Day.

Below is a story captured by a dear friend that speaks to the joy I have seen emerge from the bond shared by Helena and Meghan. I hope you will enjoy it and that you too may take pause in your lives to hear the birds sing.

"Recently, Helena and Meghan ventured out from the safety of the rehab home to go to Church on a beautiful sunny day. Helena decided to take a leisurely walk with Meghan in her wheelchair and enjoy the blessings around them. The walk of gratitude began to extend beyond the road of comfort as Helena pushed Meghan up hill through six lanes of traffic in the busy city of Boston. They have been away from home for many long weeks to receive a special treatment for a brain tumor that seems to have a mind of its own. Helena just wanted to take the weekend break from rehab and the routine of hospital life to attend Church.

The trip was taking longer than expected, the day was hotter than originally felt and their drinking water had been consumed a while back. Helena’s arms and legs were beginning to really ache from pushing the wheelchair uphill and she was losing hope that their focused purpose would never come into sight. All that Helena could hear were the sounds of a busy city catering to nonstop traffic and crowds of tourists. In the midst of feeling once again that everything was beyond her control, a feeling of slight panic was beginning to take hold. In typical Meghan style, this sweet, pure soul saves the day with her amazing observations and says, “Mommy, do you hear that?”

“What, the traffic the people, my frustration?” Helena replies.

“No, the birds!” Meghan exclaims so sweetly and with such joy.

Helena pulled herself from the sinking feeling of defeat to listen for the birds. Once again, Meghan is correct. It was not an ordinary sound of birds, but choirs of birds singing like angels proclaiming the presence of hope, the pureness of life and the belief in “All is well.”

Helena smiled and laughed in awe that Meghan did it again! Her ability to live in the moment enabled her to thoroughly understand what really didn’t matter and find what did matter. The music of God’s presence being sung by the birds was worth the strenuous trip in the heat, traffic and city noise.

What would have mattered most to you? The chaos or the choir?

They arrived at Church, spent the time in prayer by giving thanks for all their blessings and happily made the trip back through a much easier, peaceful route than the trip before."

Our friend, Joyce, closes her account of this story giving thanks to mothers who play the role that loving soul’s play by bringing hope, faith and unconditional love into the lives of the “children” they are blessed to share life with. Thank you Joyce for these words and thank you Helena for being the mother of my children.

Stephan