John and I started the morning by taking a walk outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. It was a simple outing, but it felt wonderful to get some fresh air together.

Later in the day, after I went back to work, he was surrounded by family. His niece Ashley and nephew Derek came to visit, along with his sister-in-law, Deb, and his two great-nephews, Saint and Jacob. Their visit filled the room with laughter, encouragement, and love.

One of the sweetest moments was watching John practice his speech sounds with Saint (which thankfully Ashley recorded). Every small step forward is worth celebrating, and seeing him work so hard with such an eager little helper made all of us smile. John also got to hold baby Jacob for the very first time, which was a special moment for everyone.

John also reached another milestone today—he said "hello" for the first time since his stroke.

This afternoon, he tackled another challenge: making grilled cheese sandwiches. He prepared them all by himself, and afterward everyone enjoyed them together. They were delicious, and it was another reminder that even everyday activities can become meaningful victories.

On a personal note, I'm feeling pretty drained. The past week has been emotionally and physically exhausting, and I'm realizing I can't do this alone. Having family come to visit means more than I can put into words. It takes some of the weight off my shoulders, gives me a chance to breathe for a few moments, and most importantly, it brings John so much joy to be surrounded by people who love him. Those visits are becoming an important part of his healing—and mine too.

Many of you have reached out asking how you can help. I recently started a GoFundMe to help support John and me through this next stage of his recovery. The funds will help cover household and medical expenses, outpatient day programs and therapy, and allow me to take a leave of absence from work so I can help him transition safely back home and get him settled into his new routine. There is absolutely no expectation to contribute—your prayers, messages, visits, and encouragement have already meant the world to us. But for those who have asked how they can support us, I've included the link below.

Thank you all for continuing to cheer John on. Every day brings another small victory, and together, those victories are adding up.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/standing-with-john-through-stroke-recovery