According to my husband today, June
4, 2012 is my thirteen year bone marrow transplant anniversary! ( I'm not very good at remembering dates.) This has been
an especially wonderful year in my 53 years of life and I am overflowing with
gratitude to my great and mighty God for blessing me with the gift of these past
thirteen years. It is hard to find words to express such deep gratitude, but He
knows my heart. To know that He rejoices over me as I celebrate this milestone
is outrageously humbling and gratifying.
I would like to use this occasion to say thank
you to so many…
My husband, Glenn… for protecting me,
advocating for me, caring for me, but most importantly, for encouraging me. In
my darkest moments he told me I would be fine and I believed him. He gave me the
greatest of all gifts amidst a not so great prognosis…HOPE. He was mom and dad to our two children for a
very long time. Required to juggle finances, our home, his job and be there
for me was an overwhelming responsibility and I thank him for not bailing, but
fighting for me with every ounce of his being. I love you.
My sister Tracey…for giving me her
very life blood, which I know was no easy sacrifice. Required to have surgery to install a port in her chest for me,
subjected to 4 hours or more on an apheresis machine for me; and as if that was
not enough, a few weeks later she was asked to have surgery and donate all over
again. Calling to ask her for a second donation was one of the hardest
things I’ve ever had to do. She had already given so much. Of course, she did
not hesitate and told me she would be willing to do the same for anyone who
needed it. That’s just the kind of woman she is …my hero.
My kids, Nic and Bree…for all that
is lost when your mom is sick for over two years, I am truly sorry. I can’t
begin to understand how scary that time must have been for you. I am thankful
for your strong faith, which I’m sure was an ever present comfort. You are, and
always will be, my greatest source of pride and joy. I am so impressed with the
amazing adults you have become despite life’s challenges. I guess it is true
that “what does not destroy you makes you stronger”. I love you from here to the moon and back.
My parents and siblings…You were my
rocks, my foundation; the best support system a person could ever be blessed to
have. Glenn and I relied on you for so much and you always went over and above
with your love, support and generosity. We adore each one of you.
My best friends…You know who you are.
Thank you for, entertaining my kids, making me laugh, playing scrabble with me
at chemo, rallying the troops, sleeping over in my hospital room, and lifting
me before the throne when I was too weak to do so for myself. I am eternally grateful.
My medical team… Dr Vesole and the
staff at the University of Wisconsin Bone Marrow Clinic who provided me with
exceptional medical care, kindness and understanding. To all of the doctors,
nurses, housekeepers, lab and x-ray techs, you were my guardian angels.
Yesterday at church the passage we
studied was Zephaniah 3:17. As I listened to the pastor frequently repeat the passage,
it struck me how true these words have been in my life.
Zephaniah
3:17
The Lord your
God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with
singing.
God
has made His presence known in my life by the miracles and blessings He
has showered me with. I don't know how to adequately say thanks for the things He
has done for me, but I will continually remember to give Him the glory for every good thing in my world.
