One of those special moments....

Have you ever had one of those moments where suddenly... at least for a moment... all of your hard work was instantly worthwhile?  So I have this darling little 4 year old client I have been seeing for about 6 months now.  Usually clients change every 3-4 months, but because I was assigned him so late last semester, I was able to keep him through the second half of summer and then this entire semester.  He is the most darling little boy...super compliant, excited about everything (so long as you are excited as the clinician), SO adorable... but with several expressive language problems.  Today was my last session with him because it is the end of the semester, and I begin my externship at Primary's in about 2.5 weeks. We made gingerbread houses, and then at the end of the session, I received the following card from his mom (and he had also scribbled his name at the bottom of the card).

Dear Miss Dana:

We are really going to miss you.  Thank you for all of your hard work and patience.  Thank you for being one of those rare people that as a parent you hope and pray will come into your child's life and touch them in a positive way that will stay with them forever.  For us that was you.  You got ** (child's name) to start talking and believing in himself, because you believed in him, and for that I will always be eternally grateful.  I wish you well in all that you go on to do.  I know you will be great.  **

*Sniff *Sniff.  It's moments like these which have made it clear why I chose my profession, and continue to make the intensity of graduate school totally worth the sacrifice.... Thus, I have to record them so when I come to another one of those "ultimate lows," I am can remember the positives, which without question outweigh the negatives. :)