[kickstarter url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2069622302/the-red-fred-project-50-books-by-50-critically-ill width=480] Our friend Dallas Graham is launching the Red Fred Project– A collaborative, story-making endeavor to publish 50 books created by 50 children with critical illnesses across the 50 states. It’s so inspiring. Jordan has been asked to be a contributor. The Kickstarter to fund the project closes this weekend. We rarely ask, but please help us spread the word and make this beautiful idea a big reality.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0T2uB-GLc8] Scientists at Stanford University used an EEG from a patient experiencing a convulsive seizure (like the ones that affect Jordan) to construct an audio recording using tones that fell into the human voice spectrum. The resulting audio track is haunting and reveals a fascinating perspective on what’s happening when the brain is disrupted by the electrical storm we call seizures. To understand what you’re listening to, here’s an except from the piece in Fast Company:

In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Persig said, “the only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.” It feels like we’ve climbed a lot of mountains on Jordan’s Journey. Sometimes, the task feels downright Sisyphean, but on each new summit I think we’ve discovered a kind of Zen. We keep going on to the next mountain because we can and we must, and the Zen we bring with us comes from two sources: from the Slayer’s seemingly endless spirit, and from the generous hearts of the people around us.

Today tested our Zen. It began with great disappointment, but as I write this I am filled with such humility and deep appreciation for the people in my life that I have struggled to write. I have erased and rewritten the paragraph above a few dozen times, until finally, like the Slayer does on her journey, I decided to move on. She always tells me, “never give up.” So, I’m going to keep going with this post.

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month and our friends at Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation have launched a really inspiring initiative called the Million Mile Run. People from all over are running/walking a million miles collectively to stand with cancer fighters and show their support for the cause. My colleagues at UTA have taken my breath away by lining up to join us. It inspired our family so much that Jordan pledged to walk a mile, too.

The Slayer has more guys than just me wrapped around her little finger. She has a fondness for Brooks Ketchup. You can only find it east of the Mississippi, in places like Galesburg, Il, where my Uncle Pat lives. Whenever she runs out of her favorite condiment, he ships her a new batch. If you want to see Jordan light up with delight, watch her face when she opens a box of Brooks from her loyal admirer in the Land of Lincoln.