Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving is our most traveled holiday, Michael did not get involved in the mad rush of trains, planes and automobiles. He spent Thanksgiving in Anchorage. With his immune system severely repressed, contact with the masses, while traveling, is not in his best interest.
Before you rush out to UPS with a CARE package, Michael did not miss out on all the goodies that come with Thanksgiving. Uncle Bill and Aunt Jamie included Michael in their family get-to-gather. Roast turkey, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and Texas style cornbread dressing with gravy and pecan pie. I think I'll check out the left overs here, a cold turkey sandwich sound inviting.

Thanksgiving is not just about a meal, family and friends. It is true basis of the celebration and our annual opportunity to reflect and give thanks for our blessings. We have experienced many over this last year:

• Friends old and new who have provided prayers and support in more ways than we can count. Friends have offered so much they would have to take a number to be recognized.
  
• Classmates from school in McGregor get a special heading. The reason, because 12 years or so plus 47 years has not lessened the bond we developed while growing up together. I have a stack of Emails, cards and notes 18 inches to my left that will verify this statement!
• Providence Hospital and their tremendous staff. These folks have done things for Michael that I thought had been lost in our current social setting.
• Alaska Oncology with special notice to Dr. Max and Nurse Margie (she is a retired Air Force Lt. Col. and has a unique ability to motivate people).
• Celgen, a "big" pharmacological company, that responded in mere hours to the hospital's request to supply Michael's chemo Rx, free. That was for the first month and Nurse Margie has encouraged them to continue this practice for and they have for six months and counting.
• Mindy Exline and her boundless energy and friends that have established a Fund and are working to raise money, in Georgia, to help with the cost of a bone marrow transplant.
• A wonderful group of girls, from MHS Class of 1960, that have established a Fund for Michael, in Texas and all over the world. I'm not sure of their reach but it is expansive.
• Alaska Social Services.
• Social Security representatives that, contrary to their reputation, have handled Michael's filing in just several weeks and with an unexpected personal touch!
• Michael's spirit and drive to, "beat this cancer".
• The Good Lord and his many blessings.