Don’t Rock the Boat, Baby

Here is the latest video update on Lilly’s remaining neurological problems from meningoencephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and lining of the brain and spinal cord) after an adverse reaction to a rabies vaccine given January 23, 2012. While her symptoms are improving, many remain … including continuous body swaying and head wobbling.

I’ll let the latest Lilly recovery video provide what visual evidence it can, but I’ll take just a few minutes to explain what these remaining neurological symptoms are like in our daily lives.

As longtime readers know, I’ve worked at home Lilly’s entire life. She is my best coworker and friend. So, as I tap away on the keyboard, writing whatever magazine or web deadline looms next, I can see Lilly out of the corner of my eye swaying.

She is fond of putting her chin on my leg as I work, and I can feel her body rocking as I write.

Sometimes I get a bit queasy, surrounded by her constant movement.

Lilly and I, it seems, find ourselves in a boat buffeted in rough seas.

Eternal gratitude that we remain together, when there was a good chance our shared lives would be torn apart. Yet, it’s difficult for me to have my girl, my rock, my steady companion struggling to maintain her footing.

I tell myself it’s a brain thing. My heart argues that it’s more.

Once anchor … now boat. Once boat … now anchor.

Don’t rock the boat, baby. Don’t tip the boat over.

(If you’re too young to get that reference, here is a video of the song, with full lyrics. … Our love is like a ship on the ocean / we’ve been sailing with a cargo full of, love and devotion.)