Travels with Jessica

Of all the things I thought I might find myself asking someday, the question “Do you know anyone who can translate the phrase ‘ventriculoperitoneal shunt’ into Italian?” is not one of them.

I have always wanted to travel the world, but when my daughter Jessica was born with a debilitating medical condition that left her physically and mentally impaired, I thought any chance of eating risotto in Verona was gone.

But Jessica taught me to think bigger than “that will be hard.” And one day she ta...