Amy's America

There are countless things to be thankful for every single day. And when bad things happen to you, it just gives more opportunity for the good things to shine through. While we should continually be saying ‘thank you,’ Thanksgiving provides us all the perfect platform. So here is just a very small sampling of the many, many things I am thankful for…

• that I am here to be able to say thank you
• early detection
• my crazy, loving, unbelievable family here, in Florida (Tennessee), West Virginia, etc.
• Nicholas George Tull Atwood – and that there is only one of him! 😉
• friends – old and new, close and distant, who provide distractions (whether big like Nashville or small like WWF), make you laugh, let you cry, take you to Outback, join you at chemo or just wish they could
• long walks and talks, planning sessions and Pinkberry
• people who stick by your side, even when they are going through so much themselves and it’s not easy for them to do so
• people who tell you what they think, even when they know it’s not what you want to hear
• cards, e-mails, texts, facebook posts, calls just because
• hand made cards and crafts by (and hugs from) children who love you and just want to help make you feel better – and do!
• little boys who have pink birthday cakes
• Dana-farber, the Jimmy Fund and Brigham and Women’s
• doctors, nurses, researchers and all healthcare workers who not only treat you but care
• organizations like the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, Bright Pink, Gloria Gemma and so many others that raise awareness and funds for research, and help people with cancer in countless ways including to feel better about themselves
• that I live now, when cancer is not an automatic death sentence and treatments have come so far…
• that side effects will fade, my hair will grow back and with a little effort when I get my energy back, I can lose the weight I’ve gained during treatment
• Genzyme and the incredibly supportive people who work there
• running friends who inspire and encourage me
• music, movies and books you can escape into
• Boston, the best city for practically everything – at least the best city for me, now – wouldn’t want to be anywhere else
• Cape Cod, the ocean, the healing power of just being by the water
• that I was born an optimist
• that people love me even when I’m the Wicked Witch
• that every day is a new opportunity to start over
• all the people who have added me to their prayer lists around the world, and all the people who don’t know me but pray for me, send me positive vibes or simply wish me well

I could go on and on and on – I know I’m leaving so much out! – but we all have friends, family and turkey to get to, so I will leave it at that… Happy Thanksgiving, all, and thank YOU for caring about me and my family and reading this blog. What are you thankful for?