Ode to Ellie

[caption id="attachment_3071" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Jenny and Bella Rose."][/caption]

This morning Ellie continues to oscillate between lucid and disoriented.  Not as often as yesterday, but she continues to say a sentence repeatedly that no one can understand.  Every time she says it my heart breaks a little, with the frustration of not being able to comprehend someone whose favorite thing is communicating.  Although perhaps I can take solace in that she may not fully realize that we are not understanding her. 

Another spectacular contribution to our Lessons from Ellie.  This one is from our neighbor in La Grange and our spectacular friend, Jenny (we seem to "collect" wonderful Jennifers).  She has been with us on this journey since the first day Ellie was diagnosed.  She is one of the kindest people I have ever encountered and I feel fortunate to call her a friend. 

Ode to Ellie-

I met you in Kohls,
then again in oakbrook mall,
You were just a wee thing, baby bjorn and all
And then, how strange, I heard you lived in La Grange
And how lucky for me to discover that
You lived across the street
I had never met a mother and daughter so sweet
You opened your doors to me and my Bella
And then we met your dad, one heck of a fella
( ok I'm not a poet and I never went to college)
You shared so much with us grateful Behms,
We felt love burst at the seams
You taught us some rhymes,
Shared many a book,
I fell for the Kennedys with just a look
Well, your family has grown and you've since moved away,
I can't cross the park to come over and play,
But my Ellie, I'm still inspired every day.

Ellie and the Kennedys are the kind of people that give me hope for humanity.
Warm, kind, funny, honest, quirky, look into your soul( oh and good looking) kinda folks!