Chloe wanted to know who made them.

That evening, while the children wrestled with wrapping paper, Priya told me a medical-device firm had agreed to review our preliminary technical data.

I was afraid to feel hopeful.

We were still far from a certified product, and every promising meeting led to new standards and more expenses.

But for the first time, someone outside our little circle was willing to study the idea seriously.

I told my mother later, and she raised her glass of lemonade.