Thanksgiving

It is Thanksgiving. A good time to reflect on what I am thankful for. The following is the list of the things that I am thankful for:

1. My Family because of their support and love, most especially during the times when I have been hospitalized and in life threatening condition. They gave me the will to pull through and to live on.


2. My friends because of their support, acceptance, love, and because they too have given me the will to live on.


3. My life because I am alive due to life-prolonging technology, and because I have a lot to live for: my family, my niece and nephews, and friends. Also because my power wheelchair and accessible van gives me freedom to get around and out of the house.


4. That I am able to live at home and not in a nursing home. This is made possible by my nurses who take such good care of me and allow for my independence.


5. That I have a roof over my head. This is more important to me since the recent wildfires in San Diego County destroyed so many homes, and my home was threatened with possible destruction by the fire.


6. The firefighters because they saved so many homes including my own during the San Diego wildfires.


7. My cat, Lucky because of the comfort and joy he provides me.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because of the gathering of family, which has always been important to me. The turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie used to also be my favorite part of the holiday. But, now that I no longer eat, that part of the holiday is now a pleasant memory. Thanksgiving dinner would not be the same through a feeding tube. It was hard to find out that I was no longer able to swallow to eat, especially when I would no longer be able to eat my favorite foods, or any food, but I gradually became resigned to the reality. It is still difficult at times to be around people eating, but I can focus on other things and put it out of my mind. I let people eat around me because I don't want people acting differently on account of me. Dysphagia, or problem swallowing is not the end of the world, it is a new adjustment to make in my life; something I've been doing my whole life with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.