Celebrating Leo's Birthday at 3,740m

Today Leo would have been one year old and although he is no longer with us, the day he was born was one of the most life-changing and beautiful experiences in our lives. We will be always grateful for being able to meet our son, become parents, spend with him the most precious two days and experience an overwhelming, unconditional, indescribable love for him, that will stay with us for ever. Leo's Birthday is a day to celebrate. 

We decided to commemorate this special occasion by sending our letters to Leo, straight to his address in heaven, via helium balloon 'post' from the top of Tochal, a mountain in Tehran, Iran. We travelled 7.5km up by Telecabin to the fourth-highest ski field on earth and arrived at the 3,740 meters early morning. Although downtown the day was quite warm, with the temperature of 18°C, up on the top it was freezing cold (-4°C) with blistering wind, snow and ice-storm. The visibility was very poor and we were advised not to move away from the Telecabin station more than few meters (otherwise we wouldn't be able to see the station and find our way back!).  

Our concept of gently releasing helium balloons to the sky and watching them slowly carrying our letters to Leo, was faced with reality and crushed by an unpredictable power of nature. Wobbly on our feet, with frozen hands and numb faces slapped by the cold wind, we walked couple of meters away from the station and quickly let go of the balloons which were immediately carried away by a violent wind.

It was a humbling experience and made us think how small and insignificant we are in the face of nature. Somehow our problems suddenly seemed smaller. In that very moment we felt transformed, lifted, in awe.