Thankful for Re-plumbed Hearts

One year ago, two days before Thanksgiving, my family was packed and ready to head to West Texas to spend the holiday with Jeff's mom. But just as we opened the front door to leave, the phone rang. It was my father calling to let me know he was going to undergo emergency heart bypass surgery in the morning.

Obviously that required a change of plans. So we got in the car, and instead of heading west, we headed north to Missouri where my parents lived. We were there in time to see my father before he went into surgery for six bypasses. I am so very thankful that he pulled through the surgery so well and has recovered completely in the last year.

Then about six months after my father's sextuple bypass, my mom underwent triple bypass surgery. So again I traveled to Missouri to be with my family. And again, thankfully she recovered beautifully, and was back to normal only a few months later.

Obviously I have much to be grateful for. I'm extremely thankful for the doctors who worked on both my parents and skillfully "re-plumbled" their hearts. I'm so glad neither of my parents suffered a heart attack, that they were both able to have bypasses — nine total between the two of them — before their hearts suffered any major damage.

But most of all, I'm thankful that my parents are still alive and well. I realize that many people do not have that privilege, the ability to pick up the phone and call their loved ones. So during this holiday season I am sincerely aware that I am truly blessed. I am eternally grateful for my parents, and I'm so very thankful that they are still here, and only a phone call away.

Stop by Laura's blog for more Gratituesday posts.