This photo is just one week after I had brain surgery to remove a benign but dangerous tumor on my tenth cranial nerve. Removal of the tumor meant potentially losing my ability to speak and swallow.

Lyric demonstrated an uncanny ability to understand what I was going through - and what it all could mean. The night before I left for Mayo she and I snuggled in bed together. She looked up at one point, held my face in her hands and whipered "Mama...I prayed to Jesus that He'll make your tumor go away."

Imagine how thrilled I was to wake up able to talk and tell my sweet girl I love her again. Oh happy day!