Gratitude

Sorry for the extreme delay in new blog posts these past few weeks. I’m sure our many fans (all two of you) have been heartbroken. The Lewis girls found out some bad news about the Lewis dad, so blogging hasn't been on the mind.

My dad was diagnosed with Leukemia (AML) on Friday June 29th. The days following have been a whirlwind. My dad is in the hospital receiving treatment and will stay there for about a month. Everyone, including him, is doing quite well (or at least as well as could be expected). It is hard at a time like this not to feel gratitude for things previously ignored like:

• Hand Sanitizer and its ability to keep germs away from my pops
• Medical Insurance
• Friendly nurses and their patient ways (except for the one that scolded my 40 year old brother)
• Beds with the ability to move up and down
• Having a cancer center in town
• Personal prayers, and all the prayers that have been offered on our behalf
• My newest little niece and the gigantic bows she unknowingly wears on her head. She better than anyone can get a smile from my dad
• Prior patients who helped refine and improve imperfect treatments
• TV remote controls
• Photographs so we can plaster the hospital room with grandkid faces
• A human being’s ability to adapt and change
• Clipboards and crossword puzzles
• Loving siblings
• Email and the immediate / painless communication it provides
• Crocks, the perfect hospital shoe
• Annual Dr. Check ups and the fact that my dad is probably the one person who actually has those, annually
• Extended family concern including the LIVESTRONG bracelets my uncle bought everyone as a reminder of their love & support
• Private hospital rooms
• Battery Packs that allow the IV/Chemo to keep running while my dad goes on walks through hospital halls
• The Internet as a ready source of information
• Marijuana and the wonderful anti nausea medicine it provides
• A loving Heavenly Father who knows when to send extra peace, comfort and faith
• Genuine concern of neighbors and friends
• The golf channel
• Hospital food. Can you believe my dad likes it? Tonight I heard him say “I wonder how they make the beef so tender.”
• Priesthood blessings
• My mom’s independence. Her ability to handle tough experiences with such strength
• My big brother’s willingness to step up and take charge of all the fatherly duties. His optimistic attitude and ability to comfort all of us
• My sister Laura’s dedication to visiting my dad for 3+ hours every day. The small unasked services she provides for my mom on a daily basis.
• My sister Sara’s ability to see things from my dad’s perspective and advise on how best to care for him. Her attentiveness to all of us with phone calls and email.
• My husband’s tenderness. His desire to drive 1 hour to mow their lawn & visit my dad after a 8 hour car ride; and before a 5 day business trip.
• And of course most of all I’m grateful for my sweet dad. You could not ask for a better father. He is and always has been the perfect example, caregiver, and provider – even from the hospital bed “Well, if your mother insists on staying please walk her to her car and back to the hospital. I want to be sure she can find her car later when it is dark.” My dad has such a unique blend of talents and personality traits. His love for me and my family could never be questioned. Everything he has done has always been for us (except for maybe when he took us to Hawaii that first time, and we only went to the beach one day for an hour. I remember lots of pineapple museums, King Kamehameha statues, and sugar cane factories).

We love you so very much Dad.