November 20, 2007

Four Years In

Four years ago on Thanksgiving Day, a turkey baked in the oven, a new table cloth lay spread on our table, and my 2-year-old son had his first seizure.

We spent that Thanksgiving in the hospital, and not once was a thought of the abandoned turkey or pumpkin pie in our minds.

The following Thanksgiving was a hard day for me to honor. I just wanted to forget that day, and the horrific days to follow, had ever happened. Why couldn't it have happened on a normal day, an easy-to-forget day, like a boring Tuesday or just any other day? But Thanksgiving is celebrated every year without fail and with much fanfare and to-do, with non-abandoned turkeys and pumpkin pies. They always show up. And so do my memories. Of that day.

Each year I seem to "get over it" a little more. The bitterness and hurt that I once felt is now upstaged by the overflowing thankfulness that I have for the healing of my son. That one Thanksgiving day changed my life forever and continues to challenge and shape me every day. Even the boring Tuesdays and the Any Days.

Life shows up. And so do I.


Submitted to Scribbit's November Write Away contest: My Life Is Different Because Of...
By Stephanie Precourt, Adventures In Babywearing - 10:18 PM
tags: , , , , , ,

24 comments:

  1. I'm glad he's healing too--what an association to have with THanksgiving!
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  2. It's good to see you're not letting this make you bitter but better.
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  3. beautiful post! I have the same feelings about Xavier's early days, his first will always be the Christmas he almost died.

    But to see how healthy Noah is today, how happy, how much of a blessing, a miracle! Is just the thing to be thankful for!

    And for us, it's amazing how time heals.
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  4. I am thankful for his healing...and for the fact that he had a mama who would not accept "this is the way it is" for an answer to his seizures.
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  5. A wonderful post. I'll never understand the "holiday" tragedies that happen. A friend of mine lost her infant son last year --- on her 25th birthday. She says the same thing. Why couldn't it just have happened on a Monday?
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  6. Wonderful post! So sorry it brings back bad memories for you. You have a beautiful story. Happy Thanksgiving!
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  7. You have such away with words. How hard. You have your little guy to be Thankful for! =)
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  8. Hope you make all sorts of new happy memories this Thanksgiving..
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  9. So glad this is a "we can look back" post and not a "we're still going through it" post! God is so good!
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  10. praise God for His healing power. Your post brought tears to my eyes.
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  11. So beautifully said Steph...It is hard to forget that day. I am so thankful for Noah's contagious smile...He is truly our Angel! Thank you God for helping us make new memories.
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  12. that has to be so hard to have that memory associated with thanksgiving, but i'm glad that he and you are both healing.
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  13. I remember that time too well. What your family conquered....only God did!

    BLESSINGS TO YOU GUYS! WE LOVE YOU!

    Lori
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  14. Lovely, hon. What a blessing to be thankful for tomorrow and everyday...
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  15. Here's to another seizure-free Thanksgiving to you and your family-more good memories to fade the bad!
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  16. Fortunately thank to your efforts and persistence, this story has an happy ending. Noah is doing so very well because of you and Jeff and everyone's prayers. Happy Thanksgiving
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  17. That's so scary - and yet time is such a wonderful healer.
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  18. Hi Steph,

    im not sure if you do this kind of thing but i love your blog so i nominated you for an award (you can pick it up at my blog - www.melinanutshell.com)

    mel :D
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  19. That is such a cruel reminder avery year. Kristian seizures were on Normal Tuesdays, and I don't even remember the dates anymore. You will learn to just be thankful that he healed. It still, only two years, in mother's heart is is such a short time.
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  20. What a great post - thanks for sharing your heart. Sounds like you and your family have so much to be thankful for!
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  21. I'd love to know what you did that you think has most helped your little guy to stay healthy.

    Parker was in the NICU for his first Thanksgiving. He was life flighted to the hospital for his first Christmas. He spent his second holiday season in the PICU where we almost lost him.

    And then this Thanksgiving has been spent in the hospital as well.

    I know you fought like crazy to find help for your little guy. I'd be interested in discovering what you think helped the most.
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  22. Wow, did I ever identify with this post! My daughter has spent four of her six Thanksgivings in the hospital. It is hard in some ways to have such a consistent reminder of the pain, but you're right - it does inspire gratitude as well. Hope your little one is doing well now!
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  23. i am so grateful that each year stings a little less and that each thanksgiving can bring more hope, more joy, and more gratitude for your son's health and for your family. his/your story is so amazing - thank you so much for sharing it with your readers!
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