One of the most frequent questions that I’m asked by friends and family is how we were able to make it through the past year and still smile. To be honest, some days are easier than others but in general we are thankful for the past year. Yes, Thankful. And today, on Thanksgiving 2010, we have a lot to be Thankful for. First off, we are thankful for the positive outcome of Andrew’s health after 60+ treatment days of chemotherapy and 30+ days of radiation. We are also so Thankful for our supportive friends who keep up-to-date on Andrew, call regularly, send cards, gifts, come to visit and never ask for anything in return. There are no words to describe what your friendships mean to us and how we could never repay you for your kindness and love. We are also thankful to our parents and brothers who never hesitated to drop everything to drive hours and hours to clean our house, do our laundry, cook dinner, watch the dog, hang new doors, replace our flooring and attend what seemed like never-ending doctor appointments with us. I’m sure our brothers will find a way to have us pay them back …. manual labor of some type or something to those effects …. But as for our parents, we know Andrew’s health is enough repayment for now.
We are also Thankful for the amazing medical team at Reston Hospital on the 4th floor oncology wing and the Outpatient Infusion Center. Nursing is a Thankless job but we know that this outcome would have been possible with your understanding, care and patience. And one of the biggest people we are Thankful for is Dr. Felice, Andrew’s oncologist. I am almost positive that Dr. Felice lost as much sleep during this past year as I did. We are Thankful for his proactive and open approach to medicine and this ability to leave his ego at the door and see the greater outcome, Andrew’s overall health and well-being.
Believe it or not, we are also Thankful for the cancer itself. Not for the disease but for what the disease stands for. Most people never get the chance to practice or carry out their marriage vows, at least not this early on in life. We understand what it about to stand by someone for better or worse, in sickness and in health, and for that we are Thankful.
So today be Thankful for everything that life has given you no matter how good or bad. Life has a funny way of making you Thankful for even the most devastating and life-changing events … and for that, we are Thankful.
Raising Awareness for Rare Diseases ………
