Gratitude

A friend of mine stopped by yesterday for a quick visit around lunchtime and made me a sandwich.  A little gesture that went along way.  I believe I illustrated the difficulty of taking things in and out of the refrigerator with 2 hands on crutches in a previous post.  As I told her my rehab plan and the length of time that I have to let the muscles in my left leg waste away, she commented:  "If your injury had happened to me, I don't know what I would do.  I have one tenth the support and close family network that you do!"
     It is true that a good chunk of my family lives in Salt Lake City. My sister, my parents, step-siblings and my husband's parents are all here. I have an aunt from Seattle who has flown out twice to help.  I am immensely grateful for the time and resources they have all pitched in to keep my household afloat!  But then more support popped out of the woodwork.  Friends brought meals. Since I can't be alone with now 1-year-old Emily, some have offered to stay with me for a few hours here and there. Friends and twice-removed family members have offered to transport Michelle to her various activities. One neighbor was so helpful to me one day, I actually hired her to help me for the next 6 weeks or until I am able go up and down stairs, perform light housework, and chase after my baby. All of these gestures large and small have accumulated into a network of support that was unimaginable the day of my injury.
     There is no doubt this injury is a great inconvenience to me. But I will make a full recovery. Four months from now, I can expect to be participating in all the activities I did before with little accommodation.  I credit the wonderful patients I have cared for as a nurse for the past 11 years for giving me clear insight into this.  New quadriplegics, stroke victims, pregnant mothers with cancer, babies with significant birth defects; the list is endless for people who have had to muster up more courage, strength, and perseverance than I could even fathom. These people have given me the gift of gratitude.

Grateful for the sun and this 1 year old cutie!