Some of you may have noticed that I’ve been a little off the grid of my regular circles and spheres. As has my wife Mary Grace. Some may be aware of our current situation which we are not living too publicly on social media but I wanted to just post a blurb about our current status.
In May, Mary Grace underwent her second surgery to repair her fifth brain aneurysm. This surgery was met with a couple of complications which has made her recovery much longer than originally expected. Following surgery she remained in the neuro hospital for 2 weeks and then worked very hard in a rehab hospital for another 6 weeks. Now home, she continues to work hard in outpatient therapies as well as with us in the house. And while she continues to make good progress every day, there is still a long road ahead to recovery.
In my lifetime, I’ve met many people who have overcome or are overcoming all kinds of hurdles and obstacles. I’ve met some incredibly brave, strong, and positive people who somehow continue to find the courage and the faith to forge onward when things are difficult. None of them can hold a candle to Mary Grace and the courage she’s displayed throughout this journey. Her outlook is incredible, her belief is strong, and she is committed to working hard to regain her strength. There are times when I honestly don’t know how she remains so positive but I wish I could bottle it and share it with the world.
Thank you for everyone’s prayers and well wishes of love and support. They are very much appreciated.
Happy Birthday Dad
It’s hard to believe you would have been 97 today and even harder to believe it’s been 15 years since you left this earthly existence. To say you are thought of every day and missed terribly are gross understatements. Your presence is very strong and I’m fortunate that the love and memories only grow stronger with time. I’m sorry you weren’t here for some of the amazing miracles and milestones that we’ve been blessed with over the last 15 years. You would be proud. And in spite of some challenges, we are all OK. I have my tough moments with some of our recent health issues but I get through them and tomorrow is always filled with restored hope and possibility. Please don’t worry. We’ve got this.
I grew up living a fairy tale childhood and I have you to thank for that. You were my first and most influential role model. You and mom were always there and always figured out the right balance of giving me enough room to do and be me, while still being close enough to pick me up when I needed it. Thanks for teaching unconditional love. Thanks for teaching me acceptance. Thanks for teaching me tolerance. Thanks for teaching me that being good enough is sometimes good enough. Thanks for teaching me that there is perfection in imperfection. Thanks for teaching me how to be a supportive husband, father, and grandfather.
Happy Birthday. I love you. We’ll see you at your park bench soon! (By the way… it really was me who started that small fire in the trash can in the garage when I was 10. And yes, I did borrow the car a couple of times when nobody was home and I was only 15. Sorry).