One Year

Today has to be the most unexpected anniversary I never thought I’d celebrate.

A year ago today Maggie was sent to the ER from an Urgent Care because after multiple visits they weren’t able to do more for her. What seemed like a severe sinus infection turned into something far more severe.

I still remember the, for lack of a better word, confusion when Lisa knew on the Tuesday of that week she needed to fly up to Rochester to be with Maggie. She was sure she’d be coming back home on Wednesday.

Maybe it was just the mom in her not being as okay as she thought she was with her first child being so under the weather than far away. Or maybe it was the oldest child not being as okay as she thought she was being that far away.

I remember kind of grinning when I told Lis that either way to just go.

Thursday we would come to find out we were all wrong.

I remember the conversations with Lisa on Tuesday and Wednesday. We still thought it was just the sinus infection and recovery that went along with it.

I remember Thursday Lisa’s fatigue and frustration waiting for Maggie to be seen in the ER.

But I also thank God for the PA from Neuro ICU that saw Maggie in the ER and knew something else was going on.

I remember Lisa calling to tell me that Maggie needed surgery. That a CT of her brain had revealed very dangerous swelling.

I remember being on the phone with Lisa when that same PA asked who she was talking to and Lisa told her it was Maggie’s dad. She told Lisa that I needed to come to Rochester.

Up until that moment hearing those words were the scariest moment of my life.

There were scarier moments still to come over the next few days.

That was a year ago today.

There are times I can’t believe how fortunate we have been in so many ways. But there are as many times that I still can’t help but ask why.

We are still unsure of what the future looks like for Maggie.

But I know we are absolutely blessed to be where we are right now.

We wouldn’t have made it through this year first without the grace of the Lord. But also we have had so much love and support from so many people. From family, from friends. But also from people we still have never met.

Even this week Lisa found herself talk to some about Maggie’s care and they told her that they’ve been following Maggie’s story.

I don’t understand the Lord’s grace. But I am thankful.

If you’ve thought about us, prayed for us, provided any type of practical support, sent a card, sent a text, you name it – you have been a gift to us.

Even now I still can’t quite comprehend this year. But I know we wouldn’t be here without the support of our community and the grace of the Lord.