As I celebrate the 8th Anniversary of my 39th
Birthday, the first thing I realize is that I haven’t blogged since 2011—I have GOT to do
better!! If nothing else, I am going to commit to blogging more frequently this
year. Of course there are things I have to say. I don’t know where my passion
went. Believe you me, I will find it again!
Now, on a more serious note…….
I am grateful to celebrate another year. Although these anniversaries seem to be
coming twice as fast as they did in the past, I remain happy to celebrate LIFE. I wouldn't dare take this gift for
granted. Those who know me well and know
my story can attest to the fact that 8 years ago, the gift of LIFE was one that
I wasn't sure I would possess. A serious
storm hit me that almost took me out. The strange thing is, during that time,
an earthquake and tsunami hit the west coast of Indonesia. I was totally unaware as I was facing a
tsunami of my own. From November of 2004
to January of 2005 I was in a deep sleep. I was in a coma. I was not aware of
anything that was going on in the world.
Now, 8 years later, Sandy had
devastated parts of the East Coast.
Strange how these storms seem to be a theme with me. The interesting thing about my storm of
2004/2005 was that I wasn't aware of much of it at all. While I only hear the reports from family and
friends of what that time was like for them, I only know that during that time
I was not “here”.
For me, the gift of LIFE was in the balance. There were times that looked better than
others. According to reports from family
and friends, doctors had little hope for me to hold on to the gift of LIFE.
Plans were being made for me to live in some type of assisted living
facility. After all, the doctors thought
that if I did live, I would never be able to live alone again. “They” said that I would most likely suffer
brain damage after being on a ventilator for so long. }They" said I’d need assistance with personal care. They must not have known that during that whole time I was resting
in the arms of the giver and sustainer of life. Little did “they” know, I was coming back to my gift; to my
LIFE.
I returned to my LIFE in January
of 2005 realizing I had been through a major tsunami. I listened patiently as
doctors told me how I would be able to get oxygen tanks for my house and could have
the mobile oxygen units when I ventured out. (I still whisper a prayer of
gratitude every time I see someone with those portable tanks) I listened
patiently as physical therapists worked with me and gave me information about
getting hand controls for my car. After
all, I wouldn't be able to drive with my feet anymore according to them. What "they" didn't know was while they were artificially sustaining my life, God was
sustaining my LIFE from a divine vantage point.
Don’t get me wrong, I am soooooo grateful for all the work the doctors and
staff at NC Baptist Hospital did to, and on behalf of, my temple while my spirit was absent. Had
it not been for them managing my temple, my spirit would not have had a place
to return to. I am eternally grateful for that.
My return from my tsunami brought with it some storm damage. Although the forecast was pretty grim for me, I
continued to believe in the promises God made me. I went through physical
therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy with the
knowledge that I would return to my LIFE as I had previously known it-- minus some storm damage. My feet don’t operate like they did prior to
the storm. I have limited feeling and function in them. My lung capacity is not a good as it was.
BUT, I can talk and sing like they never thought I would. I don’t walk with a
cane, crutches or any other assistive device.
I don’t carry a mobile oxygen tank or have one in my home. I drive my
car with my FEET. I have some storm damage, but I have LIFE and that’s what God
promised me. I don’t take it for
granted.
Earlier this week, President Obama and Governor Christie surveyed the damage
from Hurricane Sandy. They observed and discussed the massive
damage the storm’s impact has had on the communities in New Jersey. No one can really predict even what the landscape of the Jersey Shore will look like going forward. Parts of New York are still without power. A huge construction crane still hangs from
the top of an apartment building still under construction. No one knows what will happen if it is not
secured and falls to the ground. However, there is still
LIFE. And, where there is LIFE there is HOPE.
Like me, the East Coast will have some storm damage but it will continue
to live.
So, on this 8th Anniversary of my 39th
Birthday, I celebrate the greatest gift I’ve ever received: LIFE. I am grateful for all I have. I am grateful
for the people in my life who have prayed for me, thought of me and kept me
lifted not only during my storm but before and after. I am grateful for the LIFE I have. Most
people who don’t know my story don’t even recognize the storm damage. They don’t even recognize my limp. I jokingly say, “He’ll turn your limp into a
pimp”! LOL (I know. Only I would say something like that).
I thank God for the storm, I thank him for
the storm damage and most of all I thank him for LIFE! On this, my 47th Birthday, I thank
God for the greatest gift he’s ever given me. I thank God for LIFE!
