Anniversary

"It takes a real storm in the average person's life to make him realize how much worrying he has done over the squalls." --Unknown

Today is the 6th anniversary of DD17's diagnosis. If you're touched by major illness, especially cancer, you never forget certain dates. For some, it might be the day of diagnosis. For others, it might be the day remission is declared. And for others, it may be the last day of treatment.

I will never forget the day our lives changed, nor the days leading up to it. Eleven days of progressively alarming symptoms. Eleven days of doctor appointments, emergency room visits, and a strange sense of foreboding that matched the frigid, dark January weather. All culminating in a rapid diagnosis and emergency brain surgery once we entered a major academic medical center.

I once read that most parents are very, very angry with their pediatrician after a brain tumor diagnosis, because what should be obvious after the fact is clouded in uncertainty during the onset of symptoms. I read that most pediatricians will only see about 1 or 2 children in their entire careers who present with a brain tumor, so their hesitancy to come to the obvious conclusion is understandable.

Still, I am thankful. I know for our family, life will never be the same. Maybe on the surface, but we look at things differently now. We know how short our time together is. We know life can change on a dime. And all of us say "I love you" very, very easily.