Lifesavers for Latasha

As I sit here on Thanksgiving Day, thinking about past and future holidays, I find myself filled with more emotions than I can process. Some are good, and some are bad, but I am working hard to focus on the good.

Honestly, I’ve been dreading today because it has always been a joyous and significant day for Tasha and me. It was a day filled with joy, great food, hard work, family, and sacrifices. Today is none of that. It’s just a gloomy Thursday that reflects many negative things.

But I digress.

Although it is very different, it marks a significant milestone in our lives: renewed hope, a better future, and more time together—a reset, if you will.

I find myself reflecting on great and prolific quotes and allowing them to take root to fortify my mind, body, and soul for the fight still to come. Success doesn’t come without sacrifice and hard work. Tasha and I are well on that path, and it’s a rough and tough one, but I’m thankful we are blessed to take it together.

I’m grateful for our family and friends who have poured love and support into us from afar. I’m beyond grateful to the donor and their family who bestowed Tasha with the gift of life. I’m so thankful to all of the nurses, doctors, and support staff at Cleveland Clinic for their expertise, love, and care. Despite my sometimes lacking faith and belief, I’m grateful to God and his presence.

My gratitude goes deep and far but feels cheapened by my current anger, frustrations, and fears. Life is fleeting, and we all know it, but it hides behind the veil of reality. Coming to face it too often has impacts that sneak into daily life. Acknowledging it deepens our gratitude, but it also weakens the foundations of not dealing with it.

Tasha’s body has been slowly healing and regaining strength through nourishment and rest. The human body is truly resilient and more powerful than most know or give it credit for. The mind and soul, though, are a lot more fragile and complicated.

Tasha is still struggling for a number of reasons, but the struggle is great and hard. We hope that time and patience will prevail. The irony in that statement is profound for me. Hope isn’t a strategy I have ever bought into, but I find myself praying and hoping that a year from now, we will have a great victory feast with reflection and lessons learned.

So, as we endure this day, know that Tasha and I are grateful, but we are also taking a knee and doing our best to remain positive and focused on the finish line.

We love and appreciate everyone in our circle. Thank you for being the enduring and strong foundation for us both.