Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today, August 28, marks an extremely important day for my Mom and our family: Mom's 51st birthday! If I remember correctly, last year she was either in the hospital or recently had been for her 50th birthday. Last year could have been Mom's last birthday here with us, but here we are again--better than ever. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I learned yesterday that Mom was much closer to losing her battle pre-op than I had known. She was considered too sick to have the surgery, but doctors took a leap of faith which paid off by sparing my wonderful mother's life. I am away at school until Christmas and would love to be celebrating this extra-incredible birthday--one she was so close to not having--with her, but I surely will next year (and all those following)! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today I was blessed to FaceTime my Mom from halfway across the country. For the first time since leaving for school I actually got to see her face--and boy is she looking good! As much as we would have loved for her to be able to celebrate at home, that will have to wait until next year. In the meantime, she has participated in intensive physical and occupational therapies which have paid off tremendously. For the past year she has had a printout hanging above her hospital room door featuring a pair of red high heels and the words "fall risk." Her hospital beds have been alarmed should she be stubborn enough to try and move about the room independently (she never did!). She has not even been able to use a toilet. But now, she has been cleared for independence! She is walking without assistance, no bed alarm, is able to roll herself over in bed, and with this re-found independence is able to get herself to and from the restroom. The progress is exhausting, but it is monumental! I'd say being so independent by now is a birthday gift second only to being home--one she accepts gladly. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I got to talk face-to-face(ish) with Mom and hear all about her day. The family got together and threw her a "party" in the nursing home's conference room. They played penny poker and my grandmother made a cake. Mom ate a steak dinner reminiscent of a hockey puck (but she knows eating is important to her recovery SO...) as her birthday dinner. My stepfather delivered the card I had left on the kitchen table before leaving for school (It was a cute Mother's Day card she was not quite "with it" enough to process on Mother's Day. I told her that it should work because she is my mother and today is her day). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mom has been more active on Facebook these last few days than she has been in awhile. For having missed out on her day in person, I loved seeing the pictures she posted. I know she is so grateful for all the love she has received today and along the way. Today I trust that it thrilled her to share a picture holding a number 1 birthday candle, saying that this is her first birthday. After all she has been through, it certainly feels as though this is the first and the best. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I look back on today and Mom's journey, I have to say once more just how thankful I am to her donor and her donor's family. Mom has been given great gifts in her 51 years--some tangible, some not--but this amazing person and her family have given my Mom and our entire family the gift that will last through all Mom's birthdays. Every birthday in this family will see thankfulness for the gift of my Mom's life. Every Christmas will be the same. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And so, once again, I say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL THOSE YET TO COME! XOXO