Raise Your Left Eyebrow

This morning, after nearly a week and a half with no muscle movement on my face, I thought I saw a tiny flicker of life while brushing my teeth. Moving closer to the mirror I saw that my left eyebrow had in fact lifted an eighth of an inch. This was it!  First an eyebrow raise, next the ability to furrow my forehead and use my lips, and from there full recovery in no time!

For now, though, it is enough to know that I have increased my range of facial expressions twofold.  This new one with the single raised eyebrow I shall call happiness.

Return to Peru.

When I first created this blog five years ago, it was intended to chronicle the experiences of my first return trip to Peru, and the title reflected that theme.  But since the sudden return home from my fifth stay and diagnosis a little over three weeks ago of Guillian-Barré Syndrome, a rare and temporary autoimmune disorder, that simple title has taken on a different meaning.

Now it is a command, a mantra, a source of motivation when I most want to escape from the hospital or struggle to raise my foot or can't even look at another calorie-dense Ensure.  Have patience.  Get strong.  Return to Peru.

Good neighbors

Went to pay our rent to Señora Nelly, the dear Peruvian abuelita who lives downstairs, and returned with a potted plant for our courtyard, two tiny rocoto peppers from her garden, an apple and a grenadía she took from a basket in her kitchen.  These are days when Peru feels like home.