Above and Beyond Women

I sent out all of my Mother's Day cards this morning. I generally send about 30 to all of the amazing women who fill my life, whatever the capacity. It takes awhile to get all of them out. I really try to insert my heart and feelings into all of them so finishing in one day is fairly impossible. But this year, I struggled. Not because these women were not worthy of a $2.99 card and the $0.44 stamp that accompanied it, but because I choked up a few times on the words that I wrote--the words have never been more true than they are this year! I love these women with everything I have. And this year, they have proven to be above and beyond women...they are my heroes!

The past few years have been trying. In 2008, my Dad fell ill with cirrhosis of the liver and passed away, despite our best efforts to keep him alive. On July 6 at the young age of 49, he went to live with God. I've never been the same nor will I ever. He was such a light in my life-despite his pain and anguish, he continued to manage humor, laughter and above all, love. In 2009, after a battery of pokes, prods and tests, my husband was diagnosed with an incurable blood disorder. It was an incredibly scary time for us--not knowing why his platelet count had been continually low for years. Finally, a hematologist determined that Matt either had leukemia or ITP (idio thrombocytopetic purpura). It turned out to be the latter--his spleen filters then proceeds to"eat" many of his platelets resulting in a lower count. He was having his blood drawn every week for months @ a time. I was constantly worried what his count was at--it can fall from 100 to 2 overnight and there's nothing we can do about it, but watch and stay vigilant. Now that we know what "Matt's normal" is (90-120 a normal person's is 150+), we can breathe a little easier as long as he stays in that realm. But there's always the worry that it will change overnight and he ends up with an injury or an internal bleed. And finally, well, you all know what January 14, 2010 brought me...the "c word." Actually, the cancer has been there for awhile, it just took several doctors YEARS to find it. ;) If you haven't heard/read the full story of my journey with cancer, I did blog about it and you're more than welcome to view it. So where are we now...

Through all of this, test after test, these women, the ones I chose to write these "Mother's Day" cards to, were there--there to pray, think happy thoughts, send cards/flowers/meals, babysit, visit, cry with me or for me...they chose to be above and beyond anything I would've known to even ask for! They chose to be present. There were times they chose to temporarily disregard their own lives to assist mine. They would ache for my pain whether it be physical or emotional. These women helped me find my "fight" when I could barely find strength to open my eyes to take the next step. These are women I could not live without!

But I haven't been the only one who has battled life's challenges...these women are true warriors! Some of them, like me, have lost parents. Others, even more tragically, have lost children. Then there are others, who almost lost themselves. But still, their hearts continue to beat. They continue to love, strive, advance, laugh, cheer and live. These women have helped to remind me that I will never be alone, even in my darkest hour. They have held my hand and walked, sometimes crawled with me, to the other side. If they only knew how much they meant to me, how much they mean to the human race. Women like this should come with capes...they are "Above and Beyond" women!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms, Grandmothers, Great Grandmothers, Aunts, Sisters, Cousins, Wives, Nieces and Friends out there! I hope you are just as blessed as I am to have such amazing women in your life. Let them know you love and appreciate them and that if and when the time ever comes, you'll be their cape-wearin', high flyin', meal makin', baby watchin' "Above and Beyond" woman, too! :)