Six Years Ago...

Six years ago about this time. Richard was diagnosed with a large brain tumor, an Acoustic Neuroma. He went through 17 hours of brain surgery, 2.5 weeks in ICU and almost 2 weeks in extensive rehabilitation. He had to relearn how to swallow, walk and many other challenging things we take for granted. He did it all with amazing courage and exceptional acceptance. The whole experience is almost too much for me to even remember. Richard has been through 5 major surgeries. He had nerve damage that effected his left side and had to have surgery on his eye socket to protect the eye. After they removed the tumor all wasn't well, months later he began leaking spinal fluid from his nose and had to go in for a minor procedure which required them to go up through the nose to cauterize the skin to seal the leak: it did not work. They had to go back re-cut the large scare behind his ear and repack it with fat from his stomach. Then we thought we were in the home stretch, we were wrong. He went in for an annual MRI and we were told the tumor had returned. We were devastated. He had to go in and have radiation treatments. Which of course made him feel awful. He recently went in for his annual MRI... he is tumor FREE!!! I feel so blessed to have held his hand during these last 6 years. I learned so much about the amazing person I get to call MINE! I learned so much about me and the love my Heavenly Father has for me. I finally have the...I don't know what it is called, but I was ready to share this part of my life I liked to keep tucked away. It is hard for me to talk about... remembering the past isn't easy or fun. I pray the future holds good things for Richie. He has an appointment to have his eye looked at for reconstructive surgery. So say your prayers for him.

Rich you are such a fighter. I love you!