Gratitude Day 18 ~ The Royall Treatment

“Progress, of the best kind, is comparatively slow.

Great results cannot be achieved at once;

and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.” -Samuel Smiles

We are living on a seesaw at the moment…one minute my Dad is stable-ish and the next minute, we have problems.  It is very hard to live like this for so many days.  I always talk about taking baby steps and it is what we are doing…or better said, what he’s doing.  So many times, we have been told that this may be it and then he rallies.  I’ve been calling him the energizer bunny because he just keeps going and going.

But things aren’t great and all of the stress on his body, the difficulties in breathing, the strain on his organs, is taking their toll on him.  He’s on a ventilator and his body is sedated.  It is sad to watch the machines breathing for him, knowing that he has no idea that we are there for him.  Somewhere in my mind and spirit though I feel like he may know that we are there for him ~ for love surpasses all.

As my Mom has repeated ~ all you need is the faith of a mustard seed ~ and she has that faith…the faith that’s bigger than the mustard seed.

So today I am grateful for the staff and especially my Dad’s specialist who are giving his the Royall treatment while he is in the ICU.  The caring, going above and beyond job description and infinite patience, love and continuing to hold that glimmer of hope all the while finding other ways to heal him have made our step by step healing easier for Dad and for us.

Thank you for the Royall Treatment!

xo

Gratitude Day 1

Dear Sofia, Maria, Kamillah, Amy, Theresa, Susan and all of the amazing nurses on the 13th floor,

I just wanted to send you a note to let you all know just how much I appreciated all of you when I was in the hospital a few weeks ago healing from my surgery.  You were all so very amazing ~ caring, comforting and always there to help me in the healing process. You went above and beyond to make my hospital stay more comfortable and to comfort me when needed.  It was the little extras, the occasional hand holding, the caring words, the infinite patience that I experienced with you all ~ and watched as you treated all of your patients the same.  

Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for a job well-done and for making us all feel special.

Warmly,
Misifusa

When I was in the hospital, I was in the ICU with 3 other women and I credit my healing with the amazing attention to detail and to their patients that the nurses at NYU gave to all of us.  If you’ve ever been in the hospital, you know how scary it can be and how the little comforting things can mean so much which is why I am sending this note to the nurses at NYU.  I was very blessed to have been in their care.

Is there someone in your life who’s gone above and beyond their job to make your life easier? Sweeter?  Better?

How about thanking them?  Just a  little note of appreciation is all it takes…and you’ll make someone smile!

Happy Grateful Day 1!

Who are you grateful for today?

xo

My Gratitude….

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it. William Arthur Ward

Since my surgery on May 9th, I have not written a blog posting.  In fact, I’ve done nothing but try to recover from my 9.5 hour surgery.  It’s been a grueling recovery coupled with a few complications which made my life more difficult and messy.  But today, 18 days later, I am beginning to feel like me again even though I’m still enduring the complications which are colitis.  YUCK.

I’ve cried many tears these past days, tears of pain, tears of weakness and tears of joy that the first of the series of surgeries is over.  I have cried because I am dealing with so much pain, cried out in frustration at my body’s inability to cope with the colitis and all around crying because I have had to endure this entire situation again.  And no, I don’t have a re-occurrence of cancer, but I do have a breast cancer related issue which perhaps I’ll delve into at another point.

But I’ve most importantly found myself crying tears of gratitude for the wondrous angels who’ve surrounded me during this period of time.  I think my family tires of my tears which rise unbidden when I find myself so utterly grateful for the kindnesses that are shown to me.  My sensitivity to feeling loved has emerged and I thank all who have helped me during this time.

I had nurses, who reached out to comfort me when things were really bad in the hospital.  Much of my time there was spent in an ICU unit which gave me sweet nurses who had the uncanny ability to connect with me and make me feel as if I were the only patient they had (even though I was not).  At NYU I had a room with a view of the water which to me is such a soothing sight that when I would lie awake at night, alone in my thoughts, I would watch the lights twinkling on the water below.  How grateful was I to be able to see the water from which I find strength.

At home, my family and friends reached out to help me through and I can’t thank them enough.  I am eternally grateful for many of the sacrifices they gave in order to help me heal…..and that they are still doing to help me heal.  My surgery was necessary and I know that I am happy it was able to be scheduled so quickly as it needed to be done immediately.  For that, I am grateful as well.

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, my “Why ME?” question ignited my soul and helped me to help others.   Again, I”m asking, “Why ME?” and I’m feeling like I have a similar answer…10 years later…this journey, this purpose is not over for me because I feel like there’s more to do.

And for that, I am grateful.

Happy Sunday to All of You!

xo