It is hard to look back at that time, a time when we had everything. We still have so much and are more lucky in our lives than most people will ever be. But still, living through Rachel’s life with Batten Disease is deafening at times and quite fun at others. There is life despite what she is going through, but it will never ever be the same. The joy will never (for me) be pure again. Despite my realism in this paragraph, it is my personal mission in life to hide my pain from my children so that they can enjoy their lives as much as possible. When the time comes that they realize the gravity of Rachel’s diagnosis, I will open up. But for now, those kids will enjoy their childhoods, even if it they don’t want to. LOL