CLAP!

We have some older tapes of Liam, but we could not find the 8mm video camera we took them on - the only way to play them back.  Recently we were able to borrow one and I tried to connect it to the TV yesterday.  But none of the cables I tried worked. My patience was running out and I was just ready to give up when I found one more cable.  I hooked it up, hit play and.....

"CLAP!" .....and a huge smile and a stinky giggle, were the first pictures and sound I saw and heard.  And all of the sudden Liam came alive again. 

In this clip Liam was sitting at her reading tutor.  She just accomplished a little task he asked from her and she was working the crowd, the little rat. 
Tutor (teasing her):  Liam, do one more and then you can have a carrot.
Liam (getting the joke and right back at him):  ohhhh, I thought there's candy...
.......
.......
Tutor:  One more word problem and the we'll do math.
9 years old Liam:  ohhhh (as if she's in high school and hates algebra)

All caught on tape!  We laughed - and wiped a small tear that made its way somehow to the corner of the eye.  You can just sense her special personality via the picture.

It's so good to see her laughing, talking, interacting.  This is so much more than she did in the last 2-3 years of her life - especially the very last one.  With all that happened in our life since Liam's 2006 difficult surgery - the one she never returned to being herself after - we forgot how lively she was.  Yesterday we saw her walking (WALKING!!!!) in her walker, driving her wheelchair, riding horses...and much much more.  Her speech was so much better too.  She talked in full sentences, asked questions, made eye contact.  Bunch of old tapes, WHAT A GIFT!