Thankful Thursday - on my shunt birthday!!

Today I am thankful for....

1.  A working shunt that has been doing so for the past 5 years.  With an average failure rate of 3-5 years, I feel like a wonderfully blessed girl having beat the odds today.

2.  A full head of hair...from the absence of surgery. :)

3.  Medtronic - for making excellent shunts and shunting products.

4.  Neurosurgeons and their mentors - for being incredibly talented and dedicated to their patients and craft.

5.  the Hydrocephalus Association - for the commitment to be educators and advocates for hydrocephalus patients and their families.

6.  my fantastic work team - who celebrated my birthday today in style.  Thank you my darlings....I am such a lucky gal to be surrounded by so much talent!

7.  my siblings - between blood, marriage, and adoption, I am grateful for all four of my siblings.  Jake, Jaimi, Casey, and Cori - I am so grateful for your support, each in your own individual ways.

8.  my parents, who have stood by my side through a ridiculous number of doctor's appointments and other medical care in the past 10 years since my diagnosis.  My Dad will crack jokes to lighten the mood, while my Mom holds my hand and ensures that I feel safe.  I don't know how I would have made it work without them.

9.  my sweetheart, who is a wonderful support in this process.  He has a healthy respect for the days when  I feel poorly, but doesn't fear the diagnosis of hydrocephalus.  The strength he provides to say, "This is okay - we can do this together" makes the inevitable shunt surgeries that are yet to come feel less scary and brings me a great deal of peace.

10.  my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father, for ensuring that I know someday it will all be okay.  That this life is not all I can anticipate - and someday my body will be made perfect and I will no longer rely on a shunt in my brain.

Happy Birthday to me!