Thursday, December 29, 2011

One year

Today's a very special day at Casa de Dear. Wait, special isn't the right word. It's significant and imbued with meaning for our family. It was on this day, one year ago, that we discovered our daughter Émilie had a brain tumour.

For the past week, Phil and I (and our extended family) have been nervously apprehending this day, this anniversary. Remembering the... bewilderment that we felt during that awful, awful time. The helplessness. The profound ache and grief that you feel, as a parent, when your child is afflicted with a serious disease. The rage you feel because damn it, it's unfair, and wrong, and just doesn't make sense at all and yet, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.

Trust me when I say that it's very, very easy to get buried in sorrow when thinking about that day, December 29th, 2010.

Having said that, when I get past the pain and sorrow of that day and actually look at the present, at December 29th, 2011? The overwhelming feeling isn't one of sorrow, or pain, or fear. It's one of relief. Of gratitude.

Relief that she doesn't have a tumour anymore. Gratitude that she's thriving, and happy, and apparently able to move on from that horrible ordeal. Relief that those feelings of bewilderment, of helplessness, of grief, are (fingers crossed) behind us. Gratitude that our daughter is still with us.


I guess December 29th is a good day after all.

Happy Knitting, Everyone.

10 comments:

Maryse said...

On ne souhaite cela à personne. La santé est tellement précieuse. Le pire c'est que quand on l'a, on l'oublie... C'est bon de s'arrêter, d'y penser et de l'apprécier.

Zenitude said...

Fêtez la vie, la santé et l'amour...faut bien arrêter de courir pour y penser. Merci de l'avoir fait.

Sandra said...

Ouf... Toute une année pour vous tous. Tara, elle est magnifique et on voit ds ses yeux sa détermination. Si on se rejase pas (j'en doute jsais pas pourquoi ;) - bonne année à toi belle amie!

Caroline said...

Quelle belle petite fille pétillante! Bonne année à toi et à toute ta famille xxxx

Celia said...

I'm glad that everyone went okay. I love the butterfly!

Sinéad said...

It's hard to believe that was a year ago. She's done so well since then, she's a strong little girl with two great parents. Happy New Year to you all.

Rhonda said...

Happy New Year!
Emilie is beautiful.
Think of you often.

Audrey said...

On vous souhaite une longue suite d'années paisibles, saines et heureuses. Et mille bravos à ton magnifique petit papillon pour son courage et sa détermination.

Dawn said...

She is definitely a miracle girl! Funny how kids are able to move on so much easier than adults.

Knit and Purl Mama said...

It's amazing how resilient kids are. What a year you have been through. So glad that things worked out for your family & Émilie is doing great now, tumor free. Here's to that!