Nobody ever dreams about imperfection or difficulty. Nobody ever imagines a life full of challenges and grief.

I am not the only one living an unexpected life. We all are.

We all live inside the life we choose – but so much of life is also handed to us.

I am thankful for what life handed me. I would have never, in a million years, chosen Kiran. Hear me out: I would have never dreamed of a medically fragile child with special needs. I would have never imagined a child with a long list of diagnoses.

I’m a broken record sometimes. But this is not a life I would have chosen.

I am thankful this life was gifted to me. I am thankful Kiran is my son. I am thankful he is sitting next to me, in the backseat, hollering and clapping joyfully, all the way to Iowa City.