Today, you turn 43.
Yesterday, as our girls, aged 6 and 4, watched you, their Papa, stand tall and walk proud at the World Transplant Games Grand Opening Ceremony, goosebumps came over me.
I remembered you told me, when you were 11 years old, your first meal after your epic 13-hour long liver transplant due to cancer was your birthday cake.
Now, 32 years later, there we were at the magnificent Optus Stadium in the 24th World Transplant Games in Perth, a day short of celebrating your 43rd birthday.
The truth is— you never should have made it.
What were the chances that a little 10-year old boy with no symptoms, was recommended to go for further tests only because of an incidental anomaly found on a blood test, done only because your family migrated to Canada at the time?
What were the chances that because of that, your family wasn’t bankrupted by the surgery because the Canadian healthcare system paid for every cent?
What were the chances that in spite of a dreadfully long waiting list, your parents got that phonecall they’d been praying for— that you had a suitable organ donor?
“Because of someone’s decision, I was given the chance to live. And not just me, but my family through me.”
When I heard those words as you fielded the video interview, I teared.
The truth is- your life, our lives, together, ought to have been a mighty “should not.”
You should not have lived. You should not have had an uncomplicated childhood. You should not have been able to complete an IronMan.
But you did. I love those childhood photos of you, aged 12, post-surgery, training for your first World Transplant Games.
You should not have lived. Yet, you you did, you do. You continue to live, to race, to push the boundaries of human limits, to inspire others, because of the indomitable spirit of life that you carry to all around you.
I know this sounds silly, but after ten years of being married to you, I had a fresh revelation of the miracle of your life.😭
Happy Birthday, Cliff. Here’s to many more years ahead, with a loud clarion call against “should not,” saying, “YES, YOU CAN. WE CAN. AND WE WILL.”