To my niece still in hospital:
Your name means wisdom.
As you wait, flat on your back, for healing, for the spinal brace to be fitted, for whatever comes next,
I have stopped eating garlic because I want to breathe out to you without stinking, even though we are 200 kilometres apart.
You have my freckles but you wear them like jewels. At your age, my freckles looked more like I forgot to wash my face after mud-wrestling. They’ve faded now but I hope yours never fade.
On your 14th birthday, the other day, when that grumpy woman wheeled your bed into the party room of the hospital, and told us off for lighting candles on your doughnut cake, I wanted to punch her in the face.
You told me to stop inboxing you so I did once I realised I had sent you 27 messages. Sorry about that, but I can’t seem to stop!
A celebrity kissed you on the cheek, your mother is a rock, your father is a mountaineer and you are, like your birthstone, a pure, shining opal.
Your nickname for me is AJ because I hate being called Auntie Julie. I love you for that.
I haven’t prayed for years but now I do – praying you will be okay, praying you will get the patience you need for the next months, praying for another private giggle, praying for every single tomorrow to be better than every single today.
Keep on opalescing, keep on being strong, keep on being you. You.
AJ
jmgoyder 
I feel your love for her in your words…and I feel certain she knows how much she is adored by her aunt. She is in all of our thoughts Jules – as are you and Ming.
I really appreciate this Mimi – we all do – thank you.
I will never forget this post
Thank you for everything.xxx
Beautiful post!
Thanks – tough journey for all of us.
“There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them.
But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them will we understand why they were there.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Fifth Mountain
“God writes the most amazing stories with our messes.”
Be strong Julie and keep praying all will be well….
(smiling) I concur – well said bulldog!
Thanks Diana!
Okay and thanks bulldog.
I love you dear Julie, and I love this young lady. I pray too… You are another angel in my blogging world, God Bless you all both. Thanks and Love, nia
My beautiful Nia, I have lost touch with your blog over last couple of weeks of trauma but will catch up soon. Lots of love to you too – Juliexxx
She has an A.J. every young girl would wish for. M xx
xxx
That was so beautiful, open and loving, a warm gift to a brave young lady. She has the coolest name ever. 🙂 She is lucky to have an A.J like you. xoxox
That’s not her real name but she is still an opal – thank you Lauriexxx
((hugs)) to all of you
Thank you.
beautiful )
Thanks – still anxious of course but she should be okay in time.
Etched in my mind, this one is. ❤
Thanks Paulette!
Beautiful. Continuing prayers for all. ❤
Thanks so much!
Well said. The thing to remember is that every day she will get better and better and the pain will diminish. Nothing is going to get worse, its only going to get better.
I think the reason for not lighting the candles is to do with health and safety. Candles are a fire risk, but they can also cause the fire alarm to go off and the building evacuated.
In Scotland, false alarms in public buildings trigger an alarm at the fire station and the fire brigade attend. Standing out in a cold car park in the middle of winter waiting for fire brigade to check the building is no joke.
If it is a false alarm the company has to pay a charge of around 600 GBP so it is also expensive. We are not allowed toasters at work as they kept setting off the fire alarm and they are also banned in NHS hospitals for the same reason.
I don’t think the nurse was being unkind. At work we use fake candles instead and they look very effective. Here’s a link to something similar. We buy then in the pound shops, so if you have the equivalent dollar shops you can get them there. Or you might want to buy better quality ones. She might like them beside her bed.
http://www.smartcandle.co.uk/cat_name/battery-led-tea-light-candles.aspx.
You are right, my wise friend. Don’t worry – no more candles to be lit!
Get these fake ones.They are very realistic and won’t set the house on fire.
When I was in my last department we had led candles on our desks. I’m going to get some for Christmas.
Continued healing for you all! I could feel this love!
A gutting, anxious love at the moment but soon to be more resigned/peaceful I hope.
I hope for you too.
AJ, I hit the like button because there isn’t a love button. What a sweet sweet letter, I am sure your niece loves it beyond words, and loves you as much. Please take care, Bill
She is struggling to cope with the brace – very hard for a teenage girl.xxx
A most loving and beautiful message to your niece, Julie. Belated happy birthday to this brave young lady. Wishing her a speedy recovery. Your love for her shines out of my screen. 🙂 xx
I will convey your message to her – thank you so much.
Wow, Julie this is beautifully said. Blessings to all.
So hard for her because all others out of hospital – so hard. Thank you for your blessings.
I hope that she gets 100% better
She will but it will take time.
I hope she gets better very soon
Hard for my mind to accept that this happened.
I have sent a little prayer flying towards your niece. Hope she gets well soon.
Thank you Colline!
Your family seems pretty wonderful. Your neice must be really special. All the best.
A lovely tribute to your niece, Julie.