The Day My Son Spoke

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday for many reasons, but now it's my favorite because it's the first time Tyler said "I love you" to us. At the time, we were use to his Tobii Dynavox, because we had been working with it for a little while. I honestly wasn't expecting to hear those three words that evening. We were at a friend’s house; everyone was sitting in random spots having conversations, Tyler was in his chair observing, and I was a few feet away sitting on the couch. I made eye contact with Tyler and he gave me his sweet smile. Eventually, Tyler's eyes turned back to his communication device and as I was about to turn away, I heard "I love you...mom" and if it wasn't for the crowd of people, I probably would have been broken down in tears. I literally looked around me, in shock, wondering if anyone else heard. Was my mind playing tricks on me or was this real life? The smile on his face gave the clear answer. I try not to think about the things he can't do or say, because I feel them. The muscles in his arms feel a certain way when he is trying to hug me and his eyes look to me in a certain way when he needs me. For the rest of my life, I'll remember this day, and his smile. Even as I type this blog, I have tears in my eyes and my heart is racing. Three words is all it took to make me the happiest I've ever been.

With a child, like Tyler, you spend all your time wanting to connect, guessing, and finding ways to communicate. And while I could see his love for me in his eyes, hearing it meant the world to me and Ryan. I have always been my child's voice, but now he has his own. Every day we get to learn more about him, always seeing new sides to his personality. This video has been watched by me more times than I can count, because it never gets old, hearing his story, seeing his smile, and being reminded to not give up. The days go by slow and they're hard, but the years go by fast. I'll forever be grateful to Heartspring for making such an important video about Tyler. I don't often broadcast our trials, but before this video, I was in such a bad place. This video was, and still is, everything I needed, and I didn't even know it. When I first saw it, I remember getting into my car and sobbing. I sobbed because I didn't realize how far we had come, until it was put in front of my face. This video reminds me of where we started, and how grateful I am for this life, for Tyler's life, and how we fought to be here. This is a three minute and seventeen second look into the life of a nine year old boy who wakes up and fights every single day. A little boy who has more courage, strength, and hope than anyone could ever imagine. On Thanksgiving Day, this little boy really spoke to me, all on his own, without being asked. On January 27, Heartspring posted his video, showing the world who Tyler is and exactly what he has always been capable of achieving. Our journey is not over. We will continue to face more trials, but as we do, we will remember his triumphs in life, and from them, we will draw strength and courage.

"It will take much more than rainfall, than stormy skies. We are endurance." 
-Tyler Knott Gregson