That afternoon a visiting nurse reviewed the medication plan and the boys’ symptoms with us.

There were exercises to rebuild stamina slowly, appointments to attend, and reminders about avoiding exhaustion.

The boys would not simply return to their former energy in a week.

After the nurse left, Kenneth asked if I thought they would ever run again.

“I don’t know their timeline,” I answered.

“But I watched Mason walk to the end of the pier this morning and back with a smile.

That’s something real.”