Thanksgiving Joy

2008
My last oxy treatment was 4 weeks prior to last Thanksgiving. I hadn't eaten much of anything in months. I had mouth sores and thrush so bad- couldn't even take liquids, got those IV by the bag full. I was having obcessions with FOOD- and I mean major ones. Watchingn the food channel 24/7, clipping recipes, hours and hours on the Net reading recipes, thought I was going to change careers and be a chef (I have been teaching high school for like 25 years). I had it bad.

Then my last oxy- I kept hoping for a mouth change- but everything I put in my mouth would stick to the sides of my mouth and my gums and yes, it tasted pretty dang bad. I would use magic mouthwash and liquid morphine in my mouth- and really thought I was never going to get through this.

And then Thanksgiving Day 2008. I was beyond the starving or famished point- but everything looked so good and smelled just wonderful. We spent the day with my son's future inlaws. Sitting at the table, I was overwhelmed with everything, including all the wonderful people there and the very obvious occasion of thanks. I helped myself- but my plate only held a modest amount. I was realistic that this wasn't going to work. And truly just totally happy to be there.

And then one bite of turkey, then a bite of stuffing- and then the tears started to fall. This was alarming to the other set of parents- who had no clue what was going on. Every single thing I opened my mouth for and took in, tasted WONDERFUL. I have never, ever, been in this kind of position before, where such JOY just flowed through my blood, made my toes curl. Rather orgasmic!

Here is wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving, full of bites of joy that sustain you and feed your soul!

Regards from Minneapolis,
Patteee