Saturday, October 13, 2007 - An incomplete list of things for which I am thankful:
Excellent medical care-- Except for the shots, Mady has had little pain and nausea. Even better, she hasn't gotten one of the infections that can really muck things up.
Doctor's we like and trust-- Not a bad one in the whole lot. All of them really seem to have paid attention in their oncological medicine classes.
Cool MGH nurses-- They're experienced and funny, and it's obvious that they really care about Mady. As a bonus, they even have good music and movie recommendations.
My job-- It's interesting and we're doing good things for architects and the world, and I really appreciate the good friends I work with. Amazingly, they can alphabetically contort their bodies to spell "MADY!" a dozen different ways.
Our wonderful family and friends-- I am completely blown away by so much caring and generosity. Everyone is really coming through and underscoring the importance of people in our lives... Thank you.
Madeline's laugh-- I heard it more last night than I've heard it all month. She's clearly feeling a bit better during this lull between the first two chemotherapy phases. We have a long road ahead, and it's going to be tough, but Mady's laugh will vanquish the disease.
Julia-- It's tough being the other sibling, but she's handling it well and helping out. I'm also very grateful for the Messengers, her current "foster family."
Chris-- She's the best mom a sick (or well) girl could have... she's kind and caring, and I love her. Chris is truly the heart of our family.
Mady-- She's a wonderful daughter and friend. I think of her and smile.
The leukemia is pretty sucky, but it has forced me realize that I have so many wonderful blessings in my life, and that there is so much right with the world.
For these things and more, I am very grateful.
Day 34: Gratitude Check
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12 comments:
Chris, Trey, Mady and Julia, you are one great family - kind and caring, smart and funny (very funny), joyful and tactful (is it a word?). Anyway, we love you guys and we are very grateful to have you in our lives and be your friends.
Thinking of you a lot.
The Riches.
Hi Mady, Chris, Trey, & Julia -- your list of blessings was very moving...how wonderful to be surrounded by such good care and energy. The positive energy reminded me of a study I recently read, where after people read a list of words having to do with being old, like "senile" or "retired", they actually (unconsciously) walked more slowly to an elevator; when they read a list of words having to do with being rude, like "brash" or "aggressive" they were more apt to interrupt someone else, and when they read words having to do with a sense of community, they were more likely to cooperate and help other people. The connection for me was that thoughts can be so very powerful in affecting behavior and relationships, and your positive thoughts and energy can only help the healing process.
I'm sending caring thoughts your way as well as thoughts of high ANC counts!!!
As ever, Leslie
Trey, that's a beautiful list. You are in our thoughts every day. Someday, someday, this will all be behind you, even though you are in the middle of it now. God bless. Jane et al.
Chris, Trey, Mady and Julia, We also are grateful that Mady has such excellent care, not only from her doctors, but from her nurses and you---her family. It's good to hear Mady can laugh, and may her positive outlook continue. Thank you so much for today's blog. It is beautiful. We are continuing our prayers and sending positive energy. XXXXOOOOGP&E
It sounds weird, but you do have a lot to be thankful for. And I don't need to list those things because that was what this blog entry was all about so I should DEFINITELY stop rambling on and on about how I don't need to say what you've already said.
Anyway, I think it's good to focus on the positives, and although there are certainly negatives, there are a good number of positives, too. So let's focus focus focus on the positives! That would make for some very good lyrics to a song...
Hoping to-day was a sunshine day for you all!
~~Stephanie~~
And so may we add our own gratitude to Chris and Trey, for two loving parents with verbal coherence to share this journey with all of us.
And gratitude for Julia, a younger sister, who is supporting the unexpected in her 2007-08 schoolyear.
And gratitude for sweet Mady, and her patience with the process of finding the right wigs and room decor and limits to wheel chair adventures and still staying ready to get home in her own bed
We love you all,
Connor and Donna and Charlotte.
Thanks for homes that are so comfortable and warm that families long to get back together in the right one...
I'm hoping the Klein/Arthur Clan can get to their home very soon. Just imagine how thankful (and conscious) you will all be of the normal stuff of life from now on.
Hugs, Kathy
Chris and Trey:
Thank you both for this blog. (I am grateful.) It has so movingly kept us connected to you and this experience. Many of us wanted to "give you shelter from the storm". And of course, you've ended up giving that to us.
In friendship --- Lisa Gibalerio
Hey you guys!
your list of blessings are truly "very moving" as leslie said. I just wanted to let you know that it has blessed me personally because by reading it I realized how blessed life really is in the midst of my increasingly stressful senior year and right now...early application for college. Just by reading that list of blessings my stress and worries and few breakdowns I've had with everything about the future and pressure just doesn't seem quite as dire because now I've been reminded of the blessings in life and how lucky each one of us truly are despite the small or big difficulties we are having. Just thanks so much for bringing everything into perspective for me, I really needed that. You guys are incredibly strong and I admire you so much! Just know that I am praying for you guys all the time and I LOVE YOU!!!!!
Kathryn (mady's older cousin)
I just read all of your posts. Of course I always hate reading about another child dx with cancer. Our daughter, Adrienne, was dx high risk pre-B cell ALL on 10/12/04. If you ever want to talk please email me for my phone number. I mean that very sincerely! By the way, Adrienne's favorite city is Boston. We live in Cincinnati right now but home is really Baltimore and Annapolis. Adrienne lived in Brookline this summer and loved every minute of it! Again please know that you can call me at any time!
Love,
Marcia (LLS Board)
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