Mum

(You may commence mother jokes at will.)

For those who came in late:

Just before Christmas 2005, my mother had a stroke. There's no such a thing as a good stroke^[1], but this was a really bad one - an intracranial bleed of grade 5 on scale of 1 to 5. Apparently most folks who bust out a grade 5 bleed die. Of those who survive, most never wake up. In those who do, there can be any amount of brain damage.

My mum did surive, she did wake up, and despite a bastard-load of complications, she recognises everyone, she's coherent, she's capable of real conversations and of doing a lot of things for herself. She hasn't recovered to the state she was at before the stroke, and that may or may not ever happen, but she is in an amazing way considering what she has been through. I could hope for nothing more in myself than the strength that she has shown, again and again, since December. Mum, I don't know if you'll read this, but if you do, please know that I couldn't be more proud.

I've written this because - as you probably know, if you're reading it - I'm lazy with email, and a lot of people ask me how my mum's doing. Many of those same people - you know who you are - have prayed for her, or sent their thoughts and good wishes. For all of that, I thank you.

[1] Well, there is, but we're not talking about alone time in the shower right now.