I know many of you will be travelling for Thanksgiving next week so I thought I'd write my Thanksgiving message a bit early. Let's start by wishing you and your loved ones a great Thanksgiving as you recount your blessings with joy.
It's hard to believe but we often don't recognize what we have to be thankful for, until it is almost taken away. Twenty months ago I was diagnosed with a "slow moving" prostate cancer. By last Thanksgiving it had accelerated and treatments were scheduled to begin after the first of the year. I was concerned but not fearful as I had been diligent about screening. In January I began treatments with injections that made me irritable, lethargic, exhausted and sleep deprived. Radiation started in April and the regimen was daily until June. It exacerbated the side effects of the earlier treatments and I thought that it would never be over.
During this time I worked daily (most days actually) but often went home early due to exhaustion. I know that my productivity suffered, that I wasn't pleasant to be around and my family suffered with me. All treatments ended in June and my first follow up was in July and my prognosis was good. My Thanksgiving present was a blood test that I think reflects good results again but I will know for sure when I visit the Doctor on Monday. Since August I have been slowly returning to normal; working out regularly, losing weight, being productive at work and regaining my cheer.
This year I will be celebrating my ability to go to the gym, be productive at work and be a good husband, father and employee. My boss has become a close friend and while I have appreciated his leadership and friendship I recognize that I never grasped how thankful that I should be. I actually have Thanksgiving daily at this point for some of the things that I have noted and many more. I wake up with a smile and try to take the time to revisit everything that I have to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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