Happy 10th Birthday Liam

Happy birthday Liam. It has been another year without you. Another year without holding you. Yet, you are with me in everything I do, in every step, in every breath. 

You would turn 10 this year. Double digits, it seems like such a big number. I look at your siblings and they are becoming so big, and then I think about how you would have been even bigger. How would you be? Who would you be? This year, you had yet another little brother, Milo who joined us and he also looks just like you.

This year, we worked harder than ever to get Liam's Law, the .05 BAC bill, reintroduced in California again and we finally have a 2-year plan on how we are going to get there. We’ve spoken to politicians, rallied supporters, filmed PSAs, educated the public, and kept fighting—because I promised you, that your passing would not be in vain. That lives would be saved because of you.

To raise funds and awareness for the mission your foundation, I completed the Swedish classic, where we cross-country skied Vasaloppet (90km/56 miles), biked Vatternrundan (315km/196 miles), Vansbro swim (3km/1.9 miles) and ran Lidingoloppet (30km/18.6 miles).

I also ran the LA Marathon barefoot, less than two years after having a full hip replacement. People asked me why. Why put myself through that kind of pain? But what they don’t understand is that I’ve already lived through the worst kind of pain there is—losing you. Discomfort means nothing compared to the importance of fighting for what matters and that I will do whatever it takes.

I competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in your honour on Saturday. It was the first time in 6 years that I've competed in any form of martial arts. Several people came up and spoke about you and how they had been affected by your story. We are making great process, even though it feels slow at times. Because every day that we don’t change the BAC, we lose lives.

I miss you a lot, everyday I feel the piece of me that is missing because of you. But I make sure to honour your name, everyday, in everything I do.

Happy birthday Lilla Bebisen, I love you.

Without your wound, where would your power be? It is your very remorse that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men. The very angels themselves can not pursue the ratchet and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living. In love service, only the wounded soldiers can serve. - Thornton Wilder