Today is July 14th, 2023. Exactly 3 years since Michael and I got in the car at 7am to make the 45-minute drive to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for the Bone Marrow Biopsy that completely turned our lives upside down. Or backwards. Or maybe the day that froze us in time, while the rest of the world kept spinning. Three years later and we have both aged about a hundred years. It feels like we have lived lifetimes, so many years of so many lifetimes, in these last 36 months. But we are here. Still breathing in the air of this planet earth. Still smiling. Still dancing. The never-ending cha-cha. Fulfilling a new-found purpose. As far as appearances go, less agile, more fragile. Our insides are mushy and soft. Maybe that is better than strong and hard and crumbly. We are warm and full of 4-letter words. Not curse words. Words like Hope. Love. Pain, too. A lot of pain. And hurt. Gift is there. And good. People are so good. And I think they care, you care, so much more than we ever imagined. 3 years since what seemed to be tragedy hit our little family of 5 minus one. But out of the pain, so much beauty. Our theme. We have no idea where we will be tomorrow. Well, probably at 1 of the 2 hospitals that continue to treat Michael, but you catch my drift. Perspective was our very 1st lesson 3 years ago, and it is still the biggest, most all-encompassing lesson today. And day by day. Moment by moment. Nothing in life is linear. But it IS deep and wide. We believe in magic and miracles and grace. We have been granted so much grace. Beauty in pain. And love. The love is endless and grows exponentially, if you allow it. We love you, we are grateful for you. 3 years ago today…. No. It does not feel like yesterday… but we are so grateful to continue to feel. To be here. To share with you.
July 14, 2023, 3 years ago today changed our lives, from ashlee
Michael and Mom Talk Cancer 