Grrrr! I’m doing this on my phone because my computer is down. Don’t ask…
This is my second attempt on my phone. I’m trying hard to stay positive and GRATEFUL! Here goes.
It took me a couple of days to figure out what I wanted to write about. I know Becky had a hard time too. You would think this would be the easiest theme ever! I have so much for which to be grateful. I don’t think I could ever finish this post if I tried to list them here. At the top of my list is God and my family. But there’s something else. Something most people wouldn’t think about. My tumor. I’m grateful for the tumor I had when I was young. Without it I wouldn’t have faced my own mortality, my bad decisions, selfish actions- all the things we regret from our 20’s. I wouldn’t have realized how precious my faith, my children, my marriage, and my family were. I wouldn’t have valued life as much or realized how it can be gone in a second- irretrievable forever. It changed my life in so many great ways. I grew up quick. And let me tell you- when you know two surgeons are going to be cracking open your skull and cutting things around your brain and that one tiny wrong move could end your life- there is no doubt you want salvation. There are no atheists in a fox hole, so to speak. It’s life or death and I was on my knees praying. I actually wrote a will of sorts at 24 years of age. That’s the place I was at in my life at 24 years old. In that moment no one can save you but God.
Fast forward almost 25 years. I cringe when I see pictures of myself. I agonize over which pictures to choose for social media. You see, as a result of the tumor half my face is paralyzed. In those moments when I don’t like how I look I have to remind myself that it was a small sacrifice made to save my life and that sacrifice allowed me to live to see my kids grow up, my grandkids be born and all the other things I’ve seen and done in the last two decades. So today I’m grateful for my broken face. I’ve had a great life and I’m reminded of that each and every time I look in the mirror. So THANK YOU to Dr. Duckert and the 1994 team of surgeons and medical professionals who saved my life during the more than 9 hour surgery they did at University of Washington Medical Center. Thank you.

High School- I had a great smile before the surgery. This was probably 8-10 years or so before surgery.

The day I graduated with my Bachelors degree I walked across the stage, walked out the door, said goodbye to my babies (not knowing if I’d see them again) and Bart drove me to Seattle, Washington for surgery on my tumor. My face was already paralyzed. The doctors said it could be temporary and surgery might resolve it. It didn’t.
Be grateful. Life can change so quickly.

Until next time,
Lisa @ Days of Our Lives