""Blessings Strengthen life and feed life just as water does." Rachel Naomi Remen, MD

This blog is a digital blessing bowl, a place to record the small blessings that are often missed or forgotten but which make life holy. Feel free to add your own blessings to my blessing bowl. Or perhaps you'll be encouraged to start your own.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Ordinary moments

In early February, my brother was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  On February 10, he had successful surgery to remove the tumor.  He is now in week five of radiation and chemo, which will continue on weekdays until April 21.  That will be followed by a two-week "vacation" and then an undetermined number of months of additional chemo.  Vaccine therapy will also be part of the treatment.
My brother modeling the new sun hat recommended by his radiologist.
Last night we gathered at my niece's new home for dinner - my brother, his wife, my sister, my husband, my niece and her family.   It was a beautiful Spring evening and we sat outside on the porch overlooking a small lake.  It could have been any quiet family dinner, but there was an unspoken difference.  A cancer diagnosis does that.  It makes every ordinary moment precious.
My brother is doing well.  He is buoyed by countless prayers and words of love and support, fueled by a diet carefully researched and prepared by his wife, blessed with the care of a skilled medical team, and committed to being well.
There have been countless blessings in the past two months, too many to number.  Our hope grows.  Our gratitude for the ordinary moments together cannot be measured.  We treasure each one.
At the end of this month our extended family will gather in Durham as a team to participate in the Angels Among Us fundraiser for the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.    We're even having t-shirts made with this logo.

If you live in the area, visit the website and join us for the family fun walk through Duke gardens.  Or join us in spirit by giving thanks for each ordinary moment in your day.    

4 comments:

Debra said...

Ginny, those ordinary moments, I have found, are what make life worth living. And most often, in the light of an illness like Rick’s, we become all the more conscious of slowing down and savoring every moment we have with our loves ones.
I’m about to post a message on this very subject.
~ Love and prayers

Debbie said...

You have expressed the subtle and profound difference in interactions after a cancer diagnosis. Ordinary moments are treasured; behind each conversation with my mom is a gratitude for the gift of her presence, which cannot be taken for granted. Thank you for expressing this so well.

Donna said...

Ginny I will be with you in spirit...I am finding a reconnection with those ordinary moments and taking time to relish them, sit with them for a while...love and prayers to you and your family!!

Stacy said...

Ginny, I'm so glad his surgery went well, that you're seeing signs of hope, and that you're all able to enjoy those "small" moments as a family. Wishing you many more ordinary evenings together.