Thanksgiving Day One Year After - Gratitude

Last Thanksgiving day I was taking an ambulance ride to the hospital. I had collapsed with severe dizziness, nausea, and unable to lift my head off of the floor. After a brain scan showing multiple tumors, I was admitted to the hospital.
I was diagnosed with CNS lymphoma (DLBCL) with tumors in my brain and elsewhere in my body. I left the hospital 15 days later after my first round of chemotherapy and physical therapy for balance issues.

There were many days during this last year where I struggled to find gratitude. I was anxious and resistant to the diagnosis, the many chemotherapy treatments, and the complications that followed each time from the chemotherapy.
My career has been spent using logic to diagnose software problems and design solutions - it was difficult to accept that I could not use these skills to solve my own health issues.

I am glad to say that I have completed all of the treatments and am in remission this Thanksgiving. Feeling so much gratitude for my loved ones, my recovering body, and the amazing doctors and nurses who helped me through this.

Thanksgiving has always been a holiday to acknowledge all there is to be grateful for but even more so for me now. And while the actual date of Thanksgiving changes each year, it is this holiday that I will use to hopefully count my continued progress away from cancer.

I would like to finish this with a Thanksgiving gratitude list. Thanks for letting me share it with you.

Gratitude for the love and support from my loved ones. Family and friends are always important, but especially during an illness. It is meaningful to see how much help is given in so many ways.

Gratitude for the excellent care and support that the doctors, nurses, and physical therapists have provided me thru this illness. I am fortunate to have an oncologist who is patient and compassionate - he was able to help me (mentally and physically) successfully complete all of the treatments. Thankful that I was quickly diagnosed and treated with a great result to date.

Gratitude for all of the amazing people I have encountered in Mayo Clinic Connect (MCC). I initially joined because I was asked to watch an educational video about an upcoming procedure. I never expected that this community would be such a positive experience during my recovery. I have read inspiring stories, found helpful information, enjoyed humorous and uplifting comments, and made meaningful personal connections.

I debated on whether to include specific comments on MCC members because I didn’t want anyone to feel obligated to respond in some way. But I decided that it mattered enough to share it with you all and that maybe I am overthinking it (something I am good at lol).
Hopefully it will be taken as it is intended - a sincere thanks for making a difference with no other expectation.

So here are just some of the MCC contributors that have affected me in a positive way….

@cindysummit for sharing her inspiring story in the MCC spotlight interview, her outlook on life, and for mentioning the book, “The Four Things That Matter Most”. This book has given me much peace as I continue my recovery. There is a lot of beautiful wisdom in this book.
The chapter about being kind to yourself during illness and offering self-forgiveness for not being a perfect patient is one of my favorites.

@denisestlouis who I first encountered with her post “A Life Well Lived”. She has shared so honestly about her determination to work thru the physical and emotional challenges of cancer and to celebrate what is possible. Her willingness to share this in MCC is appreciated. Wishing her good health and healing as she continues thru her treatment.

@edsutton whose intelligent and interesting posts are appreciated for helping to inspire thoughtful reflection. And for his description of Hazel who could have her own MCC membership as a virtual therapy dog sharing her canine perspective of life lol.

@katgob whose cancer experiences, recent bone marrow transplant, and ongoing recovery are encouraging to us all who may need this treatment. Her sharing and thoughtful advice to others as she continues her own recovery is encouraging and appreciated. Wishing her continued good health.

@loribmt who is an amazing MCC mentor. Her posts are always encouraging and uplifting in some way, no matter the subject. Her great long term success with her blood cancer and bone marrow transplant are inspiring. Her helpful and supportive responses always communicate care, compassion, and positive energy. She is a great part of MCC and appreciated for helping in so many ways.

@mepowers for sharing her CNS lymphoma story and corresponding with me about her treatment, her continued long term remission without a bone marrow transplant, and sharing about her gratitude for each day. Her success in recovering from this disease and her kindness in helping other CNS lymphoma patients/caregivers is appreciated. Her great outcome with this disease has given me hope for my own great result.

@mnewland99 for sharing her story in the MCC Spotlight interview and expressing her joy in the progress of her treatment. And for sharing the great image of driving down the Pacific Coast Highway celebrating her progress with music playing and windows down. Really appreciate her kind response and offer of support. Wishing her continued healing, good health, and lots more great music.

@triciaot for the “Your Story in Six Words” post.
Enjoyable, Sometimes Challenging, Always Interesting, Appreciated

If you are still reading this very long post, I will end by sending a Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate this holiday and wishes to everyone for some peace and happiness in this life.
I look forward to hopefully posting another gratitude list next Thanksgiving.