Celebrate Life - Joan

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Marcia Reece said on 2/25/16 - 11:29AM

Patience is a Virtue ~ Especially when it comes to Miracles Like many of you, I grew up learning about miracles performed by Jesus. Those were instantaneous acts where the results were immediately recognizable. In a discussion with friends Jim and Julie last weekend, we began talking about miracles. It was then I recounted two amazing miracles that have blessed my life. The first is shared here and I eagerly await your comments and feedback. My miracle is being recounted in bullet points to make it quicker for you to read. • Fall 2006 After 10 years in Chicago, I made the decision to return to Denver where both my adult children were now living after finishing their colleges. • After a day of house hunting, my daughter and I went to have dinner. • For some reason, immediately after we were seated in a restaurant, I had a strange feeling come over me that this was not where I was to be eating dinner. I told my daughter I would rather we go to another restaurant. Never had I done anything like this before. We left a tip and went out to eat at a nearby restaurant. • Upon finishing our dinner, we were approached by a man (Bill) who had been eating at the table next to ours. He asked if he could buy us dessert. We declined. He offered he had overheard my house hunting plans and offered to help if he could as he had been a Realtor for many years. • We exchanged cards. • I returned to Chicago. • One month later. My birthday gift was a week at Cooper's Clinic in Dallas where I would spend a week. The first day and a half having first a thorough physical and then the last three and a half days learning how to live long and strong in the second half of my life. • My flight arrived late and I was tired when I finally arrived at my hotel room. I was to have my very first colonoscopy the next day and nearly blew it off since my arrival was so late. • After my colonoscopy, I was advised a suspect polyp was removed and sent for analysis. • Told to enjoy the rest of my week and I would be called upon my return to Chicago with results. • At lunch time the next day, I was advised to meet with the colon-rectal doc in thirty minutes. • I knew what this meant! • The test results confirmed my suspicion. I was advised to return to Chicago and have color surgury of my colon removed. • I did not have a primary care physician in Chicago and had no idea who to contact. • Spent the next 30 minutes in my hotel room crying over my situation. Realized my swollen, red eyes and stuffed up nose would not help my situation and I vowed to myself that would be the last time I cried about what was upcoming. From this point on, I vowed to live every day as long and as strong as I could. • My phone rang. Bill was checking in to see how my plans to return to Denver were progressing. He knew I was upset and asked what was wrong. I explained my situation and that I didn't know how to even begin to find a doctor. • Bill said not to worry as he had it all taken care of. Beginning to sound like a miracle. • Bill and his wife had lived in Winnetka (a Chicago suburb) for a time and their next door neighbor was the #1 colon-rectal surgeon in Chicago. • Bill called me the next day to tell me I had an appointment with this esteemed surgeon in 9 days!! • The appointment led to surgeon at Northwestern and further good news to learn that the tumor had not grown outside the colon wall and was removed when the 14" of colon was removed. No chemo and no radiation needed. Now, this sure was a miracle to me but it took several months to unfold completely. Please share your comments and thoughts with me.