Happy Birthday, Julia!

Your birth was traumatic
but you rose above 
You are a survivor...
and a winner.
You learned how to hear...
And how to enjoy the silence.
When you were very little
we used to take you outside at night 
to look at the stars.
You overcame so much 
to be there...
It made the stars extra special
When you were old enough to dance, 
you danced before an audience
Even though you couldn't hear the music.
When you were old enough to walk
we went for walks in the hills.
 and had long conversations
You always knew where you were headed
And thought
a lot
about how you wanted to get there.
We cooked together
I taught you to knit.
(well, I tried!)
We watched Hanna Montana and The Gilmore Girls.
We laughed a lot.
You have overcome more odds 
in your 18 years
than I have in seven decades.
You are a beautiful young woman
With your life ahead of you.
Make the most of it
Enjoy it
You will rise.
I love you .
~Ahmi