"Laura endured profound and permanent brain damage during her birth 51 years ago. Although cognitively impaired and having little volitional motor control, her joie de vivre was infectious. Seeing the signs of awareness and happiness shining in her eyes and smile lit up the hearts of caregivers."
"Some people report experiencing an ineffable dimension after years of practicing meditation. Others do so following ingestion of psychedelics, others following a near-death experience. Laura seemed to experience bursts of transcendent joy of a similar kind, though she couldn't tell us what made her eyes shine and her face light up in such ecstasy."
"During the hours that followed her birth, she experienced numerous seizures, and within a day, the hospital neonatal specialist told her parents that she was unlikely to develop beyond the cognitive level of an infant, and that we should consider instructing the hospital to abstain from special efforts to keep her alive."
Laura suffered profound brain damage at birth but displayed an infectious joy that touched her caregivers. Despite cognitive impairments and limited motor control, her awareness and happiness shone through her eyes and smile. Caregivers experienced a lift in mood and meaning from their interactions with her. Born in a well-equipped hospital, complications led to a C-section after signs of fetal distress. Initially, doctors predicted severe cognitive limitations, but she was stabilized and sent home, defying expectations with her vibrant spirit.
Read at Psychology Today
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