November 1983
Dusty stared with round eyes as Mary Ann lit the single candle on his birthday cake. He'd grown to be a healthy, happy baby with his father's light brown hair and blue eyes and his mother's dimples. Only faint scars on his chest remained as evidence of the ordeal he'd endured as a newborn.
"You're one year old today, Dusty!" Mary Ann exclaimed. The little boy, too young to understand the importance of the occasion but able to sense that something significant was going on, chortled happily.
"Now it's time to blow out your candle," Dawn told her little brother. "Then we'll all sing 'Happy Birthday' to you!" She puffed out her cheeks to demonstrate, and Dusty did the same. Soon the candle was out, and all the guests sang to Dusty.
"Time to open your presents!" Dawn announced, grabbing the biggest one.
"It's amazing how far he's come, isn't it?" Roy said as he put his arm around Mary Ann.
"It's a miracle," she agreed, sighing with contentment as she watched her son enthusiastically rip the wrapping paper off the large box.
