There’s a great quote attributed to the actor Laurence Olivier: There is a spirit in us – that makes our brass to blare and our cymbals crash – all, of course, supported by the practicalities of trained lung power, throat, heart, guts. There can be no doubt that Jordan possesses all four of Olivier’s practicalities. And she has no shortage of spirit. Be it cross, determined, ornery, charming or doleful, she generously shares her pains and pleasures with those in her presence.

The test went well. She was actually awake during most of it and she was very cooperative. It took a long time. We have no new information, other than the pressure was not elevated. That pretty much rules out a shunt malfunction. She’s much more talkative. She keeps saying she wants to go home. I think she keeps asking so that one time we’ll slip and say, “okay.” She doesn’t look sad as much as she looks cross and determined.

She hasn’t gone for the test, yet. She’s very alert and trying to speak a lot. It must be frustrating for her because she has to repeat herself so much. Even then, we still don’t understand what she’s trying to tell us. One phrase is loud and clear: she wants to go home. She gets very sad when we tell her it won’t be today. But she weather’s through. I told her she was “a tough old broad.

She slept well again last night, but went to bed late – a sure sign her condition is improving. Later this morning she will have a spinal tap in order to rule out shunt malfunction. She will be sedated. I’ll send an update later in the day.

In a photo taken earlier this year, Jordan demonstrates the “million dollar smile” . It was as if someone fired a flash bulb. The room lit up when the smile erupted on her face; the toothy smile that’s become part of her beauty and charm. The smile that IS Jordan. It was partially obscured as she lay sideways on her pillow, but its potency was unabated. That smile pumped oxygen into the room and provided her family a chance to breathe in hope.