Early Christmas gift

I received an early Christmas gift Thursday. My one year anniversary MRI. Stable. That is the best 6-letter word I can think of! As the members of the brain tumor list call it, I have reached my 1 year "tumorversary". I have survived a year. While I wish I could say that the worst is now over, I cannot. I don't know what the future holds, but I know who I am, and what I can bring to any situation. Faith, fearlessness (see faith), family, friends. I look forward to the coming year(S) with excitement and empowerment.

As Christmas draws ever near and I think back to last Christmas I reflect on how thankful I am. Again, many, many thanks to all who have helped our family get through this valley. We will never forget the amazing outpouring of care and concern. You will never realize how that carried us through.

Although most people would not see it this way at first glance, I have been blessed this year. What hasn't killed me had made me stronger, so I have gained strength. I have awakened at a young age to the preciousness of life, which some people completely miss. My faith has grown. I have been forced to make changes in my life that I would stubbornly not have made without the intervention of a crisis. I have wonderful friends, new and old, and have been blessed by their presence in my life. What more could I ask for?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!