Would you have voted in your first presidential election this week? (And perhaps, would you have thought of yourself and others with childhood cancer who have permanent pre-existing conditions as you voted?)
Would we have visited you for Parents' Weekend, and would you have showed us, with pride, your messy dorm room and your fraternity house?
Would you be in the midst of a gap year in Israel, and would we be getting regular "I'm okay" texts from you each time something happens there? Would you be sending me daily food pics?
Would I be sending you daily automated "boker tov" texts that probably come through at the wrong time?
Would you be choosing a major, and would it be based on your childhood experiences in the hospital, or might you be going in a totally different direction?
Would you be texting daily with Solly, trying to help him navigate 8th grade homework? Would you be monitoring his twitch stream and sharing his delight at his gaming successes?
Would you have been the one to help Yael prep for her camp staff interview, giving her the sage advice from your experiences only a year before? Would you be preparing for a year on staff together at camp?
Would you be cheering David on as he embarks on his acting career, and taking a road trip to Maine to see his show with your buddies?
Would you be making plans for your future, a future that never happened, because instead of turning 19 today, you are forever 8....
Sam, we miss you an unimaginable and uncountable amount every day. Some days....even more.
Happy 19th Birthday, Sammy. We don't even know all the ways that it's just not the same without you.
3,982 days later. We're still here.
3rd birthday: Birthday marathon
4th birthday: This is your birthday song
5th birthday: Five is a big number
6th birthday: Six is Awesome
7th birthday: Lucky Number Seven and Birthday Boy
8th birthday: Little Things
9th birthday: Birthdate
10th birthday: Just Not Okay
12th birthday: Dozen Donuts
13th birthday: I'm Sure
14th birthday: Because You Haven't Grown Up
15th birthday: Frozen
