How do you tell the story of a child whose life defied medical impossibility yet ended too soon? In this deeply personal and emotional episode, we share the journey of our youngest son Liam—from his unexpected conception to his final heartbeat at just 18 months old.

Born with a severe congenital heart condition that should have claimed his life within weeks, Liam somehow thrived without medical intervention, traveling across continents with our family. His extraordinary resilience allowed him to experience the world's beauty—from Dominican beaches to the Sahara Desert—all while his body quietly compensated for having only three heart chambers instead of the normal four.

The signs were there—subtle skin discoloration, delayed walking, gradual rejection of solid foods—but they unfolded so slowly we couldn't connect them until it was too late. It wasn't until a minor fall in Cyprus led to a hospital visit that we discovered the medical miracle who had been living among us.

What gives us peace amid unimaginable loss is knowing Liam lived exactly the life his soul intended. He experienced constant love, avoided suffering through futile medical procedures, and accomplished his purpose of bringing our family closer together. In his 18 months, he taught us more about presence and unconditional love than many learn in a lifetime.

While sharing this story brings tears, we also find profound meaning in how Liam continues to communicate through signs, particularly repeating numbers like 2:22. His legacy shows us that death isn't merely an ending but a transformation—and that even brief lives can fulfill their perfect purpose.

If you're navigating grief, searching for meaning in loss, or simply need a reminder about what truly matters, Liam's story illuminates how living wide open, even through heartbreak, reveals life's deepest gifts.

That small, seemingly insignificant decision to take a budget flight through London instead of flying direct to Cyprus? It cost us hundreds more than we planned and taught us a valuable lesson about family travel logistics. But that's the beauty of this journey we're on—the unexpected detours often bring the most profound realizations.

When we finally arrived at our Cyprus villa, nicknamed "Serenity," it lived up to its name. After the whirlwind pace of Morocco, this spacious three-bedroom haven with its pool and mountain views became the perfect place to catch our breath. The kids explored freely without neighbors to disturb, we established morning walks with Liam on our backs, and for the first time in months, we had space to simply be.

Cyprus brought so many pivotal moments for our family. There was the near-disastrous hike to Adonis Baths where we learned the power of maternal instinct when a taxi driver's wife insisted he rescue "those babies" from walking back in the dark. There was Alex's first experience driving on the left side of the road, with all of us chanting "left, left, left" at every turn. And there was the magical moment watching our daughter with special needs fearlessly glide across an ice skating rink, showing us how our own limiting beliefs often hold us back from attempting new things.

But perhaps most significantly, Cyprus became the backdrop for important relationship transformations. My sister Catherine made the decision to end her travels with us, and we welcomed Aaliyah as our nanny, shifting our family dynamic. Alex and I used a Valentine's weekend retreat to reconnect deeply, creating family values and vision boards that would guide us forward. I made the conscious choice to focus on what I loved about my husband rather than what frustrated me, and it transformed our relationship in ways I never imagined possible.

Looking back now, we couldn't have known that this peaceful month in Cyprus was preparing us for the greatest challenge we would ever face. These moments of connection, these lessons in adaptation and presence, were forming the foundation we would soon desperately need. If our journey has taught us anything, it's that the real adventure happens in the spaces between our plans—in the messy, beautiful reality of a family learning to live awake together.

Join us next episode as we share Liam's story—from his birth through the synchronicities that led to his passing. Your story matters too, and we'd love to hear how our journey intersects with yours.

Step into the shifting sands of Morocco through the eyes of a family discovering its vibrant landscapes, ancient cultures, and most importantly—themselves. From the blue-washed streets of Chefchaoun, where street performers sing your name for small coins, to the majestic Atlas Mountains with their wild monkeys and Berber cave dwellings, this episode captures the full spectrum of Moroccan wonders.

The heart of their journey unfolds in the Sahara Desert, where camel rides lead to picnics where bread is baked directly in the sand, and children race up and down towering dunes with sandboards as the sun sets dramatically over an otherworldly landscape. Through each adventure, watch as their toddler Liam—whose presence now carries poignant significance—experiences these magnificent surroundings with unexpected joy.

Beyond the breathtaking scenery, this episode delivers profound insights about recognizing when you're already living your dream while still chasing it. As Alex reflects atop a thousand-foot sand dune: "We had this vision of traveling the world... and somehow we're finding reasons to be miserable even though we're right here doing it." Their story reminds us that success isn't always what we're pursuing—it's often what we're already living, if only we'd slow down enough to notice.

Whether you're planning your own Moroccan adventure, traveling with children, or simply seeking perspective on appreciating the journey, you'll find resonance in this honest, sometimes challenging, but ultimately exhilarating family expedition. The episode closes with a tantalizing promise of future Sahara journeys they plan to host for others, inviting you to consider your own desert dreams.