Today is Thanksgiving 2013!
I want to share some things that I'm especially thankful for…and hope that it inspires you to reflect on the things that you're thankful for.
Some of you may or may not know, I started out 2013 with my 23 year old daughter Kelsey being diagnosed with APL leukemia.
There are no words to adequately convey the utter shock waves that went through our family as we learned the devastating news. It was a living nightmare.
For 7 months we fought alongside as she quietly battled a stealthy foe with great patience, grace and resolve. We had a mantra "One day at a time." and that served us very well.
Kelsey endured chemo, arsenic treatment, 3 bone marrow biopsies and all that goes along with allowing toxins to enter your body and kill the cancerous cells.
Through it all, she NEVER complained.
She had a dedicated and highly skilled team of caring doctors and nurses and a mountain of love and support of her parents and big sister as well as lots of extended family, friends and strangers around the globe.
In July, just 7 months after being diagnosed, she achieved complete molecular remission. It's sometimes hard for me to think about the fact that this is till the same calendar year! So here's what I'm thankful for:
- I'm thankful for skilled & caring doctors and nurses.
- I'm thankful for our strong family bond.
- I'm thankful for the Facebook - yes Facebook. It allowed us to post updates on her progress so we only had to say it once https://www.facebook.com/KelloKittyKicksCancersButt
- I'm thankful for the thousands of prayers and well wishes sent our way throughout her battle. It meant the world to our family!
- I'm thankful I have an online business that I love that allowed me to be with her 24/7 without losing my income. If I was still teaching I most likely would have had to take a leave of absence.
- I'm thankful every day I get to see her beautiful smile and feel her love and know that she is healed.
- I'm thankful I've managed to maintain my sense of humor - some days that's all I had to get me through the rough spots.
Most of all I'm thankful for the unconditional love of family and friends, and I wish that for you as well!
I'll leave you with a quote that kind of sums up what I've learned this year:
"Tomorrow is never promised, so live for today. Put your ego aside, open your eyes to who and what's around you. You are loved. You are cared for. You are blessed, always remember that."
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?
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I think every day since the “complete remission” diagnosis has probably been Thanksgiving Day for your family, Eryn. You have been a pillar of strength throughout it all, and your family a rampart of “Kick Cancer’s Butt!”
Congratulations to you all, and here’s to healthy and happy coming year!!
Oh! and Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!
Agnes Knowles recently posted..Wise Words From Some Young People
Thanks Agnes! xo