Brave, cherished boy,

I’m always a mess after your doctor appointments but they don’t faze you at all, which isn’t a surprise. Not much fazes you and I love that about you. As we meet new doctor after doctor, they all tell us the same thing: they’ve never seen a heart like yours. And while they literally mean your heart is unique, I can’t help but agree with them. Because I know your real heart, and it is so special and unique. You have faced so much in your 3 years of life, and much of it without your family by your side. And I would totally understand if you were scared, suspicious, timid, and shut down. But you aren’t. You are bold, confident, reckless, and bursting with love. The more we know you, the more we marvel at you. And so does every new person you meet. You charm every nurse and doctor with your sweet, helpful heart; you charm every teacher with your quick laugh and joyful smile; you charm your whole family with your fiery loyalty and arms-wide-open love. And I rest in the fact that you will face any challenge head on, with a mischievous smile and deep trust in those around you. Because I’m sure you’ll face challenges throughout your life, and I’m sure there are many tough roads we will have to blaze together.

And this is what I want you to know: don’t lose your reckless brave. Don’t lose your open-ended joy. Don’t lose your ability to love without holding back. Don’t lose your ability to walk into any room and make people feel a little glimmer of hope and sunshine. Because that’s what you do. You walked into our lives and gave us your heart, that crazy heart that’s like no other, and you showed us what hope looks like in any circumstance. You showed us what it looks like to meet any situation head on, with a big smile and a joke in your eyes. You showed us what it means to choose to trust the people in your life. And I’m so thankful for the things you’ve shown us. Because I know that as we walk this path together, I’ll need a lot of brave, a lot of trust, a lot of love, and I’ll definitely need a lot of laughs. And I know that I’ll have them.

Thank you, little wild man, for sharing your brave, special heart with us. I love how God made you, and I love that He literally gave you a unique heart that matches how special you are. We are so thankful we get to love you and fight for your heart.