Henry and Lola

photo by Alvin Nee on unsplash

Have you seen the video of the woman who turned 92 recently being asked by a young woman what her secret is? She says she doesn’t know. She mentions that she eats and drinks whatever she wants. When pressed, she says she doesn’t take anything for granted. Her eyes light up.

I finished the memoir, A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney this week. I love reading books that change me and this book is no exception. It’s a love story about a family going through something terrible. Delaney’s son, Henry, was diagnosed with a brain tumor as a baby and died a year later. As you can imagine, it’s a heartbreaking read. It’s also humorous and beyond moving in the purest, most honest, and vulnerable way.

I also just learned that 100 per cent of the profits of this book goes to kids’ hospice care so if you are interested in reading it, buy a copy!

He writes about the ecstatic happiness in his little boy’s face as he played on the floor with a wriggly therapy dog, Lola. The pure joy on these pages, my God, it melts you and also makes you come to life and cry a lot.

Delaney writes, “if you happen to be reading this book because someone you love is sick, or you yourself are sick and in the hospital, I really can’t stress enough how important it is to do things like play with a dog while you’re getting treatment. Holding a dog and letting it lick your face is absolutely just as important as your chemo, your radiation, or any surgery. Why? Because it fucking works, right then and there.” 

Please don’t put off your joy.

It matters deeply.

Do more of what brings a big smile to your face. Maybe that is getting licked by a dog or kissing the cheeks of those you love.

Don’t take this precious time for granted.

Do it for Henry and all the other children out there facing, big scary things.