What I'm Thankful For

This time of year makes you really think about what your thankful for, and I've got a lot to be thankful for. Ten years ago my dad had just passed away from Mesatheleoma in September. It was a very hard time for us. The Thanksgiving after he passed away my son who was nineteen kept complaining of his shoulder hurting. He was a skateboarder so we thought he just had landed on it. The pain kept getting worse. I took him to the doctor, couldn't find anything wrong. He wasn't any better by the next week and had a low grade fever he couldn't get rid of and seemed really tired. Back to the doctor, blood work, cortisone shot in the arm and a z-pac. Blood work showed nothing. Back home, a few days later he couldn't walk upright, doubled over, very tired. Back to the doctor, his spleen was swelled up, more blood work. (Shoulder pain was referred pain from the spleen.) Went home to wait for a call. Call came, "get to the hospital ASAP!" Two days later after more tests and an ambulance ride up to Indianapolis, Michael was diagnosed with Leukemia. Got his first chemo treatment on Christmas Eve 1998. (Not exactly what ever 18 year old wants for Christmas.) Ginny our only other child was a perfect match and the following May before she turned 16 she gave her brother a Bone marrow transplant that saved his life. What am I thankful for? Our God that hears and answers prayers, my children, a loving husband, family, my church family, friends, doctors, hospitals, a country where I can chose where we can get hospital treatment, food, shelter, a free country and the men and women who defend her so we can be free. That's what I thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Take care.