Before this whole cancer thing, I had an "earmark" to which I compared everything to. It was when my oldest stepson had a horrific car accident that put him in a coma for 17 days. He had to learn how to walk and talk all over again. It happened on November 29, 1996. The day after Thanksgiving.
When we got the call, we packed up and headed to Traverse City in a lake effect blizzard through the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The next 3 months were a blur of snowstorms, coma scales, and grasping onto the slightest hint of consciousness...the slightest hint that he was "still in there".
By the grace of God, therapy and time have produced a functional young man who now has a wife and family. We are so grateful. We came so close to losing him. It was a time in our lives that presented many challenges, for all of us. But, we made it.
Since then, life's challenges were met with, "We made it through Young Ron's accident, we can make it through anything."
It worked.
Two years ago, on November 6, 2010, my second oldest stepson and family were presented with their own "earmark". Their 4 year old son, Aidan, was diagnosed with leukemia. After more than a year of harsh chemo and many health scares, Aidan is now in the maintenance phase of his treatment and thriving. Many, many prayers have been sent their way...knowing this was their "earmark" that they would compare everything else to. Aidan's mom and dad have shown such strength. I don't know how they do it.
It is tempting to view November as a dark month, a month when "bad things happen".
I can't.
November is a reminder that there is hope that bad things can bring good. They bring gratitude and perspective. Once an "earmark" is experienced, the little things that tie one in knots tend to be pushed to the side. Things like appreciation of family, friends, and a higher power come to the forefront.
Simple things are cherished.
Our new "earmark" is here. The tools we acquire in this journey will be used to deal with the next.
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