Cape Karen
It seems like just yesterday I was writing a Thanksgiving blog - where does the time go? This year will be a year to remember and be thankful for our friends and families, who are scattered all around the country, as we sit down to feast on our little roast and veggies; just the two of us and Smudge kitty. (She can have some gravy.)
Part of me thinks we should be out, serving a meal to the homeless, or doing something more 'giving' on this particular day. After all, we are alone this year, and we have no family obligations. But, Frank wants to rest and just enjoy his day off from work, so rest he will - because the golf course is closed. (Now there's something to be thankful for!) I had my 'thanksgiving' early this year - having had such a great time back home with my friends in September. Now, I can carry those memories with me through the holidays.
One of my special friends back home is Natalie Ryan - she is an amazing woman of incredible faith, who has endured more heartbreak than most of us will ever know. Two of her seven children were killed in accidents at young ages; something no mother should ever have to bear once, never mind twice. But Natalie has - and she has done so with courage, warmth and love. Her husband, Joe, and their five other children, Dave, Chris, Ginny, Ruthie and Meg have all given so much to their community over the years. They are all true witnesses of how such terrible adversities, while never forgotten, can be somehow endured and overcome, with a strong faith and great deal of love.
Now, the Ryan family needs their community of love again. Their son, David, now married to Cheryl and the father of three young sons, had a terrible explosion accident on Monday, November 13th, and he suffers burns over 45% of his body. His left eye was burned, his (dominant) right hand has terrible third degree burns, and his stomach, back, legs and torso, are all badly burned. He is in the intensive care burn unit at Mass General Hospital in Boston.
Dave has already endured more than 8 hours of surgery (skin grafts) during this last week, and he will have to have even more surgery in the weeks and months ahead. They're keeping him heavily sedated and intubated because of the pain - and that's been very difficult for his loved ones. They all want so much to see his eyes again, and to hear his voice. The boys are missing their dad. They're frightened to see him in a hospital, encased in a plastic enclosure with tubes everywhere, and sleeping all the time. But, they also know it's keeping his pain at bay, and that that's a good thing. His suffering will become their suffering.
Last week, in a flash, everything changed in the Ryan family.
This Thanksgiving, look around you, see the people in front of you - really see them - and please. . . don't take them for granted.
Pictured: David, (blue shirt) Cheryl, Matthew, Nolan and Nathan Ryan
Posted by Karen at November 21, 2006 10:33 PM