OT-What I am thankful for...

So lately I have not been feeling good. BUT I wanted to share a couple of things that I am grateful for. I am incredibly lucky that I have this forum and the Barix support group every 3rd Wednesday and 1st Saturday and beyond that I can pick up the phone and call any of the Barix leaders and they would drop whatever they  were doing to be there for me. I know I have had to do that in the past and they have come thru for me.

I am getting emotional just writing this. Lately I have gone up and down with my health and feel like a toad for not moving my behind I had reached my weight loss goal as a result for being in the hospital for 12 days. BUT here is the reason I decided to post this. I just had lunch with my parents again today. They are in their 70's and some of you already know that my dad is paying for my plastic surgery. Well today my dad told me that when they had me admitted to the hospital for Renal Failure he told my doctors that he would want to donate his kidney to me. WHAT? Why would my dad think that I would take his kidney? And did he really think I was in that much trouble? For a while it was very scary stuff because not one doctor had good news for me. But I just started brawling when my dad told me this today. I am sooooooo lucky in life to have such generous parents and incredibly lucky that I have you folks that listen to me ***** moan and vent and share in my ups and downs. I just wanted to let everyone know how humbling it is to know that I am rich where it counts. In friendship and in my immediate family area. Sorry this is long and I am rambling but thanks for listening and being here for me. Love you all...

PS-Please feel free to share with me what you are grateful for. I know life has it's ups and downs but there always is a silver lining behind those clouds.

Shilpa,

What an amazing story!! Your dad sounds like an incredible man. I am so glad that your family is so loving and supportive of you. It makes all the difference when you do have that! You know that we are here for you, no matter what!!! You are a wonderful person to know and I am glad that we have become friends.

There are so many things I am grateful for.....A job that I LOVE, a wonderful husband and daughter, a house over my head, a car to drive, and my health and the health of my family!

I have to say that I am also grateful for all the friends I have made by having this surgery, going to support group meetings, and posting here on OH! I am also grateful to myself for finally getting up the courage to go through with the surgery! It was the BEST gift I gave myself and my family....

Love, Beth

Thanks Beth and YES my father is an incredibly generous man. I love him to pieces but I underestimated the power of parenthood. I really did I am sooo incredibly touched by his generosity that I don't have the words to convey how grateful I am to be his daughter. The thought of losing my parents scare the hell out of me. More than ever I am going to make a diligent effort to spend more time with them. Thanks for listening and sharing your experience with me. Love ya.

your Dad is incredible, and u would do it for your child as I would. when we became parents we put our children first
Susan

Shilpa,

You are not rambling, but expressing things exactly as you feel them and that is what makes you so special.  You have always expressed yourself with honesty and that is something I can relate to and one of your unique gifts.   It can be very humbling to realize that we matter to people in a way that we never really got before, whether because of our "fluffiness" or just some deepseated fears of not being enough. . .

So dear friend, out of this recent health issue, you have chosen to find the gift that lie within it and that is what true gratitude is about. 

You are blessed with a loving, supportive family, as well as your extended family due to your choice to have WLS.

As for me, I am grateful for the life I have today with all the many family and friends I have in it.

Hugs, Laureen

Shilpa,

   You are not rambling my dear but expressing your feelings with trusted friends. I have had the experience of being with you during some emotional times and feel a connection because of that. You are blessed to still have your parents with you in life and they have taught you well because I have seen you with your amazing son and daughter. 


  For me I am grateful for all that I have in my life,,,My family is small at this point but we love each other no matter how dysfunctional we may be to the outside. I have a man that loves me unconditionally good and bad. He accepts me for me and I am far from perfect. In the last 3 months I have learned just how much my true real friends mean to me. The people in my life I can trust 100% which is huge for me since I have trust issues with people and learned Even though when one breaks trust to not get rid of everyone just those that you broke the bond.

I am grateful to learn as one door closed several have opened in the last few months for me in positive ways. I could never expect in my wildest dreams....

I also have my own home, house and rich in so many ways that is not dollar related. (now who is rambling) 

I'm grateful for a man that loved me even if i was fat... Jeremy never knew me when I was thin in high school.

I'm grateful for 2 sweet girls... even if they drive me nuts- I was told I would never have kids.

I'm grateful for my parents and Jeremy's... they have helped us in some ways that others would never get...

I'm grateful that I have a job even if I hate it... I'm grateful that Jeremy has a job as well.

I'm grateful for a God that loves me no matter what and I don't have to prove anything to... He takes me as I am...

I'm grateful for my friends.  While I don't have a lot of close friends the ones that are close I would never trade for a single thing.

I'm grateful that I have lost a 100 pounds.  And while I still have more to loose, I am 100 pounds lighter.  With a huge rack that is natural lol...

Beautiful post, Shilpa.   As much as we all love to ***** and moan at times, it is so important to step back and realize all that there is to be grateful for.  I am grateful each day that I wake up and feel healthy.  I'm thankful that I can finally enjoy my free time without feeling guilty that I should be doing something else.  And even though my family has quite a few dysfunctional members, ( well - whose doesn't) I am learning to accept them the way they are  and am grateful that they are still part of my life.  I feel fortunate to have people in my life that I can count on to be by my side in times of happiness and sorrow.

Last, your Dad story brought tears to my eyes.  There is not a day in the last 6 years that goes by that I do not think about my Dad and miss him terribly.  

love, arlene 

Beautiful Post Shilpa - thank you for sharing your intimate thoughts!

I am thankful that God was by my side every step of the way though those long years of abuse with my ex-husband.  In those very dark hours, days, weeks, months, years when I wanted to give up God was there wrapping his arms around me letting me know someday I'd be free from my torchure and in 1998 he gave me the strength to start planning my excape and in 1999 that strength translated to leaving and divorcing him.

I am so grateful that I have my two daughters, they are my heart and like your dad I would give any part of my body if they needed it. 

By the grace of God Gene came into my life - Gene showed me I could trust him, be safe with him.  He showed me a love that I always believed existed but had doubts I'd ever find.  He is my bestest buddy, my husband, my friend, the one who makes me whole.  He allows me to be me, never tries to change me as I never try to change him.  We accept each other for who we are and love all the parts that make us whole.

I am thankful for all I have met here on OH and at Barix.  What an amazingly wonderful group of supportive, loving people.

Take care my friend, keep healing!!!!

Ida