Today's #FridayReflections post: "Since today is Thanksgiving Day, write a post on the subject of gratitude."
My father suffered a traumatic brain injury during his service in World War II, which left him with lifetime seizures. Medication could not completely control them. Without the medication, he suffered from what was then called grand mal seizures-I believe the modern term is tonic-clonic. With medication, most of the seizures were downsized to what they then called petit-mal. Now, I believe,they would be called absence seizures. Whatever they were called, I saw some of the discrimination my Dad suffered.
But it didn't stop him from being a wonderful father. I have many treasured memories of him. My Dad used to love to watch houses being built. We were never able to afford one, but on Sundays, he would take me for walks and we would walk to houses under construction. Perhaps he would dream. I would listen to baseball games on a tinny transistor radio.
Thankfully, although some individuals with autism suffer from seizures, I have never seen my brother in law "Bil" have one. But, when he was young, he was suspected of having seizures. He was put on a medication, Depakene, that made him so sick that his mother took him off.
Today, the day after our American Thanksgiving I want to share the story of a mother who has a child with epilepsy - and how those with epilepsy can be taken from us at any time due to a condition that many of us have never even heard of.
It's a scary thing, these unknown countries that co exist with the countries of good health. I am grateful for the many good things in my life:
The people I spent Thanksgiving with.
The smell of roast turkey, the taste of eggnog.
The full bellies we had the opportunity to have.
I am grateful for Bil's physical health and the Internet that allows me to blog about him and about life in general. I am grateful that society has changed in Bil's fifty-something years of life, so that he is more accepted in society. Today I pause in gratefulness.
What are you grateful for?
Its not easy and hats off to you for everything you are doing. I lost my parents few years back and I know how difficult it is. But we need to see to positives in our life and be thankful for everything we have. :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking my Dad was the one showing the courage - but you are also right, it was not easy, and there are some memories that still hurt. I do try to see positives in my life, but not always trying as hard as I can to see them all. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteGod Bless You! Your courage is truly praiseworthy! I have enccountered epilepsy in close quarters within our extended family. The pain the child faced due to it is devastating. There was so much the mother had to endure.
ReplyDeleteI lost my father 10 years back, his loss has created a hole in our lives that can never be removed or filled. Be strong, be Thankful, Be positive.