Giving Thanks...
by Jack Henslee
As we approach the holiday season, and Thanksgiving in particular, some reflections may be appropriate. For myself I look at my life as an assortment of many things to be thankful for. To say "Why me" instead of just being thankful, would also require me to ask "Why me" in regard to the many wonderful things that have occurred in my life. Many of which resulted because of my association with the many laryngectomees and care givers I've been privileged to meet in the past few years. It's the old enigma of "Where would I be if I had taken a different road."
As I reflect it seems like only yesterday that I first began my fight with the "Dragon" and was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. In reality however, it has been more than sixteen years. I was quite young by laryngeal cancer standards at that time, but I avoided a total laryngectomy and was certainly thankful for that. Nine years later the Dragon returned and I lost my larynx, but again I was thankful to still be alive, and have the ability to still speak. After another seven years the fight was once again renewed. Although this struggle has been difficult and is still on-going, I'm still thankful for just being here and having all of you and the support system that we've built during the last six years. The way I see it I don't have three strikes against me. I've won three times.
Some of you may also remember when you had to start this journey to recovery alone; with little or no support available. For you new laryngectomees, although you may feel lost and confused at times, you have benefited greatly from those that have preceded you and helped establish this network of love, caring, and support. You have gained from the Visitors Program, the Loan Closet, the information provided, and the meetings and special events we have. You have benefited from those that didn't say "Why me", but instead were just thankful to be able to help someone else.
Each of us is different, but we all have something to be thankful for. Things like; not smelling foul odors, diminished taste that enables us to eat almost anything, reduced colds and symptoms, no more snoring, an excuse not to participate in long winded discussions, and my favorite... an excuse to eat sweets... like peanut butter cookies.