A Thanksgiving Story 2013

A big hello from our family, a huge thank you, and multiple hugs
for all the support that we have received this past year
from all of our friends, extended family,
City of Hope employees,
and all the wonderful health care workers at Keck Medical
that saved John's life on August 13, 2012.
2012 was a life changing year for John and our family
during a strenuous racket ball game, he tore his carotid artery
that led to a major stroke.
Next followed 4 months in Casa Colina Rehab Hospital with daily rehab.
Just before Thanksgiving last year,
he was discharged and our journey continued
with daily trips to Casa Colina Rehab Hospital as a day patient
and as the weeks and months followed
our daily trips were shortened to a few days.
Insurance would not continue to cover for PT and OT
so the challenge was taken up by my sons, daughters,
and myself who carried on
with trips to the Central Coast with long walks on the Ranch and
at home.

John continues to strive in every way to regain his lost abilities.
The day to day changes are small
however as I look back on this year the changes have been
grand and sometimes great.
John can now walk with little assistance,
speech gets better every day,
and on April 1, 2013
he began to attend a few meetings at COH
and mentor his students and lab on site.
He has kept up with the rest of his work
by way of email and Web Ex.
John feels that he still has much to offer to the field of science
( We like to call this his hobby!)
and an affirmation of years of discoveries and publications came a few days ago.
NIH funding will continue for his research.

Now as we count down the days before Christmas
and life begins to get overly busy.
I hold on to the fact that everything does change with time.
Just don't give up!
Life has something always to be thankful for even on the darker days.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Hugs,
