During the days at the hospital, I often found myself heads down and speechless. One afternoon the father of a patient started chatting with me. I didn’t know why. Later on I figured that he was likely moved by the great turnout of Shirley’s and Johnson’s supporters. I think Shirley would be happy to know that.

Like everyone else, I saw how lucky Johnson is when I first met Shirley. That became even more obvious as I get to know Shirley better. Johnson has questioned himself out loud on whether he has brought a good life to Shirley. Watching Johnson’s sheer will to find hopes for Shirley’s condition, his emotional ups and downs, his exhaustion, it was heart breaking and heart warming at the same time. While it is not my place to say, but I believe Shirley is truly happy and proud of Johnson. Not just for Johnson’s love and persistence during the days, but also for every seemingly mundane but subtly unforgettable details that make up the fabric of Shirley and Johnson’s life together. Inevitably there were missed opportunities and regrets in memories, but they were part of life, part of a simply good life.

I am one of many fortunate enough to meet Shirley. In a dimension that can’t be measured by time, Shirley’s grace is always with us.

David