Seventeen Years

Today is a very special day. Not only is it my mother-in-law's birthday, it is also the 17 year anniversary of the day that Michael was diagnosed with leukemia. He was 11-years-old. Every year, Mom Marmion commemorates it as a celebration. Today, on her special day, she made a point to reach out to all of her kids and remember this day as the day that their family was forever changed. It's amazing. That must have been one of the most terrible days of her life, and rather than try every day to forget those dark and difficult days, she works hard to remember it on this day and every day. She appreciates every moment with Michael and is grateful that they all made it through such a horrible ordeal. If you can't tell, I am extremely impressed by my mother-in-law.

I don't know about you, but I find myself often getting annoyed by lots of things. Why did I miss that train? I'm tired. Of course the cats knocked something over again. I don't feel like doing my homework. I don't feel like running. Pooooooor me. Days like today make me realize how lucky I truly am. We are all usually a lot luckier than we realize.

I know it's not very cool to gush so publicly about my husband, but I adore him, so I don't care. Sorry, baby. Michael is the nicest and most caring person I have ever met. He teaches me compassion and patience. He supports every stupid thing and every (rare) smart thing that I do and say. I cannot imagine loving a human being more than this selfless, kind, intelligent, hysterical man.

In 1991, I was in seventh grade. My biggest worries were if my ultra hair-sprayed bangs would look nice today, if I would get a part in the Christmas play, if the boy I liked would talk to me, and if I'd ever meet Johnny Depp from my new favorite movie, Edward Scissorhands. My parents were worried about the public school boys I was hanging out with, the makeup I was wearing, and if I was growing up too fast.

At the same time, Michael's parents were worried if he'd make it through this. If only I had known that the love of my life, my partner, was fighting for his life at the same time. We only met thanks to the advances in medicine made possible by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and by the grace of God. And I thank them both every day for letting me meet this wonderful man.