09/08/2026
Sometimes the crystals and digging simply have to wait for another day. Favorite gifts are not always those wrapped up in paper and pretty string. They are those that leave an imprint on your heart, mind, and soul.
Yesterday, my love was able to go on a mountain hike with me and reach the summit for the first time in 3 years. Multiple Sclerosis has robbed her of many things but her determination and grit is not one of them.
My mind is blown at what her exoskeleton was able to do, and more importantly what it was able to give her. Her freedom. Her freedom to traverse rocky scrambles and pine forest trails. I shed tears of deep joy. I have missed having her up there with me. I have missed the feeling of seeing her reach the top.
It wasn’t without nerves or anxiety as she constantly worried if this device would fail or stop working, but it didn’t. It didn’t rob her. In fact, it guided her all the way up and all the way down.
This, this is the greatest birthday present I could receive. Standing above the pine(s) once again with our smiles and love for the outdoors. Hypershell