Counting our Blessings

It is nearly Thanksgiving- a time when many of us give thanks for our blessings- whether it be a good job, a loving family, freedom of disease, etc. I tend to give thanks on a year round basis for many reasons. One of the reasons is that my husband is a true walking miracle. Ten years ago last month he was diagnosed with liver cancer and was only given a few months to live if he did not receive a liver transplant. His body was beginning to shut down and we were fearful that he would not live to see the spring. We were blessed that the fabulous team at Mayo Clinic found a donor within 3 days of his first chemo treatment. We had precious little time to make the decision as a second chance might not come around. We had no counseling as we were scheduled to meet with the Mayo social worker the following week. We went in head first---not knowing what was ahead but had to put our faith to the test. The surgery was a success although the weeks to follow were very difficult for the entire family. I had to leave my children here at home and stay with my husband until we were released from Mayo. Thank God for family and friends that were on the ready for us. We pulled through. A few months later, however, he was on death's door once again. He had returned to Mayo for a routine biopsy of the new liver. An error was made that put a small hole in his diaphragm- I hadn't accompanied him on this trip as it didn't seem necessary. He returned to his hotel room after the biopsy and phoned to say that he didn't feel well- he was dizzy and his insides hurt. He hung up from me, phoned 911 and passed out. He was bleeding internally and his blood pressure was almost non-existent.
No one phoned me until the following morning to inform me that he had been hospitalized. Once again, adrenaline kicked into high gear and I headed to Mayo. The physician that had performed the biopsy tried to explain that they couldn't get the bleeding stopped. I thought, "we've come this far and now he's going to die from a simple procedure??" I walked over to the corner near his room and began to sob. Fortunately, they located a doctor who explained to me that if they preformed a thoracotomy, they could drain the blood that was killing him and he would survive. I quickly signed the form to allow this. Again, he was saved. A few years later, cancer would rear it's ugly head again, this time in the form of prostate cancer. It was found during a routine exam (MEN OVER 50, GET YOUR ANNUAL EXAM!!!) We phoned Mayo and got right in with the specialist. The diseased prostate was removed and once again, he pulled through.
I am thankful that he was here to give our daughter away at her wedding (when he walked through the church doors that day, the sun was shining behind them both and there wasn't a dry eye in the place!) to see our children graduate from high school, begin college, to witness our grandson's birth (and cut the cord as our son-in-law was deployed) and to be here for whatever the future holds for us.
Happy Thanksgiving from a very grateful woman!!