10 years.

10 years. 10 years ago today we heard the word Leukodystrophy for the first time. 10 years ago today we were told Sam had Vanishing White Matter disease. 10 years ago today we were told we would watch our son slowly lose all motor function and die. 10 years ago today we were told there was no hope for our son.

It feels like a lifetime ago and yesterday at the same time. 

We never thought this day would come. When Sam was diagnosed he declined so quickly that no one, including us, thought he would live 10 more years. We are so grateful he defied expectations and we have had 12 crazy, incredible years with him.

I think you can say a life well lived is one where you have left the world a little bit better than the one you were born into. By this definition, Sam has well and truly lived. He has impacted countless lives, and no matter how much time he has left, he will leave this world a better place because he lived.