YEAR OF BATTLE

****
A YEAR AGO TOMORROW, I STARTED A BATTLE WHICH IS ONGOING . I WAS FEELING SIMILAR TO MY HEART ATTACK OF 2003.

CHILLI PEPPER CARRIED ME TO THE ER JUST LIKE THAT TIME . I UNDERWENT THE EXAM & WAITED FOR THE RESULT .

THE ER DOCTOR SAID " YES, YOU HAVE SOME HEART ISSUES BUT THERE IS A GREATER CONCERN AT THIS TIME ". WORST THAN A HEART ATTACK - WHAT IS THIS BOY SMOKING , WAS MY FIRST REACTION.

THE DOCTOR BEGAN TO TALK FAST & USED SOME WORDS ENDING IN NOMA . I SAID "WHOA HOSS WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ?'

THE DOCTOR SAID YOU HAVE LEUKEMIA . THIS WAS THE OPENING BELL FOR A FIGHT THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY .

I TOLD CHILLI PEPPER , " I DON'T THINK I WILL GET TO GO HOME TONIGHT . I HAD NO IDEAL THAT THIS WAS DAY ONE OF A 68 DAY STAY . 19 OF THOSE DAYS WERE IN ICU .

TWICE THEY TOLD FAMILY THAT IF I COULD LIVE 48 HOURS I HAD A CHANCE TO PULL THROUGH . ORGANS & SYSTEMS BEGAN SHUTTING DOWN . I HAVE ALMOST NO MEMORY OF ANY OF THIS TIME . I HAD SEVERAL VISITORS THAT I NEVER KNEW THEY WERE THERE .

THIS I KNOW , 68 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL IS DIFFICULT . IF NOT FOR FAMILY , FRIENDS , & PRAYERS I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT . BEING IN THE HOSPITAL OVER THANKSGIVING IS HORRIBLE .

MY FAMILY IS FEW IN NUMBER BUT MIGHTY IN FORCE . HOW CHILLI PEPPER HELD EVERYTHING TOGETHER IS BEYOND BELIEF. NOT ONLY DID SHE HAVE A JOB , A HUSBAND IN THE HOSPITAL , BUT SHE MOVED FROM ONE HOME TO THE OTHER . I NEVER RETURNED TO THE HOME WHERE WE HAD LIVED 24 YEARS .

ONE BROTHER IN - LAW CAME EVERY DAY AT LUNCH . HE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MEANT . I HAD SO MUCH FAMILY SUPPORT FROM EACH & EVERYONE PULLING ME THROUGH THOSE DARK DAYS .

I HAD MANY VISITORS , SOME I AM STILL NOT AWARE OF . SCHOOL PEOPLE , WORK FRIENDS , COACHES, PLAYERS , THE FARKLE TWINS , & CHURCH FRIENDS . TOO MANY TO NAME THEM ALL .

BUT EACH VISIT HELPED ME SO MUCH & I WILL NEVER FORGET ANY OF THEM . I JUST WISH I HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THEM ALL .

BUT THERE ARE VALLEYS THAT FAMILY & FRIENDS CAN'T GO WITH YOU . IT IS JUST YOU & THE LORD . JESUS WILL TEACH YOU MANY THINGS IN THE VALLEY .

YOUR PRIORITIES WILL CHANGE . SOMETHINGS WILL NO LONGER BE IMPORTANT & OTHERS CEASE TO MATTER .YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME CHASING THE WIND .

I HAVE HAD 50 CHEMO TREATMENTS NOW & MY REPORTS LOOK GOOD . I HAVE ANOTHER BONE MARROW TEST NEXT MONTH .

I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VISITS & PRAYERS DURING THIS BATTLE . PRAY THAT I WILL PUT THE EXTRA TIME THE LORD HAS GIVEN ME TO GOOD USE .

THANK YOU FOR READING !!!!!!!