Day 8: Doctors.

Doctors. We see them on TV. We talk to them in real life. We take them for granted. We don't truly appreciate all the magnificent things they do for us and for our loved ones.

I am forever thankful for doctors.

I am thankful for doctors for many reasons. Without doctors, I would not have some of the special persons in my life today. Some people do not like doctors, but I think that doctors are very special people. It takes a special, determined, intelligent person to become a doctor. They have huge shoes to fill and play very important roles in our lives.

Doctors saved my dad. About seven years ago or so, I got a call the night before I was to leave for  New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina relief. Pods is in the hospital. His white blood count should be 100,000....it's at 1,000. Pods has Leukemia. I remember thinking WTF?! When did this happen? How did this happen? I need details. Should I cancel my trip? Is my dad going to die? So many questions. No answers.  being far away is hard. Very hard. Son of a....

 Doctors took my mom's breast cancer away. It was two years ago that I Mims told me at her mother's day lunch that she had a lump. Effing lump. I remember telling Will. I cried. I perched on the counter and just talked. Will listened. He was strong. Mims was strong. I sat there thinking that this is not happening. This lump is NOT cancer. It couldn't be. We knew that our strong Mimie could overcome this. She had surgery a month later. Good-bye boobs. Good-bye cancer....

Doctors are currently doing everything in their power to take my friend Krystal's breast cancer away. I was the first person Krystal came in contact with. She was scared. I was scared. Breast cancer sucks. We both cried. We hugged. I was there for her. It was a moment I knew all too well. I hate it. Krystal is so young. Krystal is so healthy. Doctors said, let's get this thing done and get you healthy as soon as we can. She is trucking along kicking cancer in the butt....

Doctors helped Will recover from what could be a very tragic injury. Over three years ago, I walked into Will's house to see a man that I have never seen hurt, in absolute pain. He cried. He had trouble walking. He was weak. This was new. I tried to be strong.  We went to Quick Care. We went to the ER. I hate hospitals. I hate the ER. I hate bad news. He was in a brace and couldn't move. Three months later he was back to regular....

It's hard having to be strong when all you want to do is cry. It's hard to put your trust in someone you don't know, like doctors. Then, we talk to them. They know their stuff. They don't get the big paycheck for being good at golf. They don't get the M.D. title for being a funny person. They get the title of  Dr. for working their asses off in medical school so that they can help people.

Doctors save lives every day. Doctors impact our lives. Those individuals are put here to become real-life saviors.  Real life savers. They change lives.

Today doctors, I am thankful for you.