Bell ringing

A full year has come and gone since the end of my cancer treatment. It was supposed to end Thanksgiving day 2015, but I got sick and my body was too broken down to finish the last 8 days of chemo, so they just called Mom and November 18, 2015 was the date I took my last pill. Most families ring the Bell at the clinic to signify the end of treatment right away, but we waited. We waited a whole year and rang it for my 1 year cancer free anniversary. The sound still made us all a little teary eyed.

 

 

 

This Thanksgiving we were thankful for a whole lot! Mostly, for friends and family and the power of prayer. This whole experience taught us how to see the silver lining and the glass as half full. 

To be honest, my glass has been nearly full all year. And we're all so grateful. 

We went on a Make A Wish trip, we had a full summer with swim lessons, SMILES horse riding lessons, a day at the beach and lots of family walks and bike rides. I started school. We did three big fundraising walks this fall with the Make AWish Walk/Run, Children's Hospital Briggs and Al's Walk/Run and the Buddy Walk Wisconsin Upside Down fundraiser for Down Syndrome. Now, we are getting ready for Christmas. 

May you and yours have everything you need this Christmas. The joy of the season isn't in getting everything you wished for, it's in realizing you are happy with everything you already have. 

 

 

 

Thanks again for all of your prayers. There are some kids at my hospital this season, too, some who will be there until next year, some who may never get to ring the bell. I'm going to try to pray for them each time I hear a Christmas bell this season. I'm so blessed I got to ring my bell. Thanks for carrying me through. 

Merry Christmas.