A THANKFUL NOTE ...THIS YEAREND

I am so excited this Christmas. I am of reasonable health and most importantly I have all of my family home or planning to be home by Christmas day. I truly hope you are blessed with your family as I am.

I was hospitalized last week for Sickle Crisis.  You see there are so many illnesses I have that I am just thankful for being here.  When the nurses are changing shifts and giving bedside reports it is rather comical to me. They say; he has Sickle Cell Anemia, End Stage Renal Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Congestive Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, and Neuropathy. They look at each other as if to say, why is this man still alive.  I look at them and say thanks to the caregivers I have beaten the odds given to a male with Sickle Cell Disease. 

By the grace of God and many prayers, I have this steadfastness and appreciation for the many illnesses I have to deal with. I don't take any of them for granted.  I thank my doctors for understanding me and my desire to beat all odds.  Their ability and desire to treat me as a "special patient" allows me to feel the need to fight and never give up.  But most importantly my family gives me the way forward with these diseases.  You see, from the time I was a little boy asking my parents to rub my sore arms and legs until the time my precious wife told me don't think about leaving us I have promised to make the best of the moment.

Isn't it wonderful to awaken each day listening to my brother as he prays for me and my health.  Isn't it wonderful to know how much you are loved by your family as they take care of me.  Isn't it wonderful to go a dialysis center where the nursing staff cares about how you feel.  I could mention many more unique and wonderful events in my life; however, the most important event is how you live your life in the present, not the past or the future.

So enjoy the holiday spirit.  May you be healthy and in the right frame of mind to enjoy your family, your caregivers and friends.  Appreciate all of the prayers for you from those you will never meet. 

Happy Holidays!